campsis radicans – Shorena Ratiani

Climbing plants are my favorites and the flowering ones are my favorites among favorites. Trumpet vines are flowering in Tbilisi right now and it makes me happy!

Trumpet flowers. Photography by Shorena Ratiani

Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), also known as Trumpet Creeper, Cow Itch Vine or Hummingbird Vine, is a species of flowering plant of the family Bignoniaceae. It is native to the eastern US and naturalized in parts of the western US, as well as in Ontario, parts of Europe, and in Latin America.Growing to a height of 33 ft, it is a vigorous, deciduous woody vine, notable for its showy trumpet-shaped flowers. It inhabits woodlands and riverbanks, and is also a popular garden plant and a living fence.

The beautiful tubular flowers range in color from yellow to orange or red. Blooming occurs throughout the summer and into fall. Following its flowering, the trumpet vines produce attractive bean-like seedpods.

As its ‘nickname” – Hummingbird vine – shows the Trumpet vine flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds, and many types of birds like to nest in the dense foliage.

Trumpet creeper flowers are irresistible to butterflies as well, and many gardeners grow the vine to attract them.

The Trumpet vine grows vigorously so gardeners need to keep it under control by pruning otherwise the vines will cover everything and climb and cover trellises, walls, arbors and fences. I wouldn’t actually mind Trumpet vines invading my garden but I would need to have much more space 😄😄