Leaf: Opposite, pinnately-compound, 6 to 15 inches (15-38 cm) long, with 7 to 11 leaflets; each leaflet ovate to lanceolate, sharply toothed along the edges, dark green, smooth, 1 to 3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long, pointed at the tip, tapering to the base.
Flower: 2 to 9 orange to red flowers grouped In short-stalked apical clusters; each flower tubular to funnel- or trumpet-shaped, to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long, 5 long petals rounded at the tips and fused into a tube, 5 smooth, green sepals united into a tube, 4 stamens whose anthers are found just inside the flower's opening, not extending beyond the petals; blooming June to September on the current year's growth.
Fruit: Spindle-shaped pod, 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm) long, 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide; long, green, smooth, flattened, with ridges at the edges, tapering to either end; ripening from July to September, turning brown, dry, and somewhat woody, splitting open to release seeds; many seeds produced in rows, each seed flat, paper-thin, winged on each side, dispersed by wind.
Twig: Light brown, hairless, woody with a solid pith; aerial rootlets in double rows; leaf scars sunken; buds small, green, smooth.
Bark: Brown, scaly, and coarse on older stems.
Form: Perennial, woody vine 20 to 40 feet (6
to 12 meters) tall with a main stem up to 10 inches
(25.5 cm) in diameter; forming a medium shrub when there is nothing to
climb.
Discussion
The genus name Campis means "bell" referring to the bell-shaped flowers. Campsis may have also come from the Greek kampe meaning "something bent" and referring to the bent stamens. The species name radicans means that it has rooting stems.
Trumpet creeper has a close mutualistic relationship with hummingbirds. The orange to red color is particularly attractive to hummingbirds, and the nectar is produced in more than sufficient quantities. Furthermore, the pollen-producing anthers and the sticky stigma are situated just inside the flower's opening where the hummingbird's forehead or crown comes into contact with the flower. Hummingbird watchers who live near stands of trumpet creeper have seen many birds wearing whitish-yellow patches of pollen. The benefit to the trumpet creeper is obvious. Hummingbirds also eat tiny insects they find on or in the flowers. The tubular flower is too deep and the nectar too far inside for most bees and butterflies to reach, though observers have reported finding holes at the flower bases where bees and rodents have gotten to the nectar without benefiting the plant. Bumblebees do feed on the nectar by crawling far enough into the flower to reach the prize. Ants live on the plant. It is fairly resistant to deer. Birds and the Eastern hognose snake nest in the vine and branches.
Trumpet creeper is native to parts of central to eastern United States, but it has spread to many more locations, sometimes having escaped from cultivation. People have planted trumpet creeper for ornamental purposes since colonial times. However, the vine grows vigorously and puts up new sprouts readily, becoming a seriously invasive plant in some landscapes. In nature, trumpet creeper can crowd out other important plants and even pull down trees.
Rapid growth makes trumpet creeper good for erosion control on disturbed sites.
Some people develop a poison ivy-like rash from touching the plant. Animals can be susceptible to irritation, too, especially cattle. That is why they call it cow -itch.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Trumpet creeper is the only climbing, woody vine
with opposite, pinnately-compound leaves and large, orange-red, trumpet-shaped
flowers.
Associated Plants
The trumpet creeper often grows with poison-ivy.
Distribution
Trumpet creeper may be found inhabiting the mesic and moist soils of open woods, thickets, forest edges, rocky cliffs, streamsides, old fields, fencerows, and roadsides in the central and eastern United States.
Images
Click each small picture to see a larger image.
Location
GPS
reading:
Description of location:
Copyright
Photos © 2003 Carlinville High School, linke@carlinvilleschools.net
References
Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Dept of Agriculture. 1971. Common weeds of the United States. Dover Publications, Inc., New York. 463 pp.
Editorial subcommittee of the Regional Technical Committee of Project NC-10, K.P. Buchholtz, Chairman. 1954. Weeds of the north central states [North Central Regional Publication No. 36, Circular 718 Feb.1954]. University of Illinois, Urbana. 239 pp.
Mohlenbrock, Robert H. 2002. Vascular flora of Illinois. Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale. 736 pp.
Aggie Horticulture Network, Texas A&M University
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/campsisradican.htm
Dendrology, Virginia Tech
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/cradicans.htm
Tennessee Valley Authority
http://www.tva.gov/river/landandshore/stabilization/plants/trumpet_creeper.htm
Carol Ness. Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/factsheets/vines/trmptcr.html
Missouri Wildflower Guide
http://www.missouriwildflowerguide.com/Flowers/TrumpetCreeper.html
Michigan State University Extension
http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/modzz/00000272.html
North Carolina Cooperative Extension, North Carolina State University
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/vines/campsis_radicans.htm
Michael L. Charters. Botanical Word Meanings and Name Derivations
http://www.calflora.net/botanicalnames/pageQ-S.html
http://www.calflora.net?botanicalnames/pageC-D.html
The Meanings of Latin
Names, Dendrology, Virginia Tech
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/meanings.htm
Bill Hilton, Jr. "Trumpet Creepers and Hummingbird Bills", The
Piedmon Naturalist: Volume 1, 1986. Hilton Pond Press, York, South
Carolina.
http://www.rubythroat.org/Article860629.html
Southern Wetland Flora, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, USGS
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/1999/soutflor/species/9/campradi.htm