Trumpet Flower ∗ The 10 best care tips and varieties

origin

The American Trumpet flower, botanically Campsis radicans, which is more relevant to our local gardening culture than the Chinese trumpet flower, comes like the German name already reveals, originally from America - more precisely, from the northern to central and eastern areas of the UNITED STATES. This also provides an essential distinguishing feature in terms of cultivation technology compared to the angel's trumpet, with which the trumpet flower is often used is confused - it is hardy in contrast to its mistake candidate, who comes from tropical regions, at least they are most varieties.

The Chinese trumpet flower has its origins in eastern China and Japan and is not really hardy.

We also often cultivate a hybrid of the American and Chinese trumpet flowers, the great climbing tropmete (Campsis tagliabuana).

growth

The trumpet flower grows as a woody climbing shrub with twisting tendrils that pull upwards with adhesive roots on walls or trellises. It is therefore one of the self-climbers and does not necessarily need a climbing aid. Its growth is quite strong and, depending on the site conditions, it can reach a height of up to 10 meters. But that is rather rare, it usually stays at half this height. In the bucket culture it generally remains even smaller.

The great climbing trumpet grows as a liana-like shrub and is just as big as the American trumpet flower.

The growth characteristics in brief:

• self-climbing, woody climbing shrub
• Strong growth
• Height about 5 to 10 meters

leaves

The leaves of the trumpet flower, which can be up to 25 centimeters long, are positioned opposite to the tendrils and, with their unpaired plumage, give off a pretty structure. They show themselves in a light, fresh green when they are young and later darken a little. The single sheets have a finely sawn edge and taper to a point at the end. In autumn, the trumpet flower sheds its foliage after it has turned bright yellow. In spring it drives out its leaves late, around mid-May.

blossom

The trumpet flower naturally owes its name to its large, decorative flowers. They are indeed shaped like a tropic and are a stately appearance with a length of up to 7 centimeters. Their tubular conglutination in front of the bulging one funnel(€ 4.58 at Amazon *) in the end is very long. The flowers stand together in clusters of about twenty on the shoots. The resulting large balls of flowers stand out attractively from the green foliage with their intense color (depending on the variety, scarlet red to sun yellow).

On the stamens of the quite easily accessible flower openings, the trumpet flower offers useful insects such as bees and worthy of protection Bumblebees a rich supply of nectar.

The trumpet flower blossom in brief:

• Long tubular shape with a wide, arched funnel opening
• Quite intense colors from scarlet to yellow
• Valuable food source for beneficial insects

Heyday

The trumpet flower blooms noticeably late - it does not develop its main bloom until August and September over several weeks and can delight with its colorful splendor until October. If the weather conditions are good, the first flowers can appear as early as June.

Unfortunately, until you can look forward to the first bloom after planting, you have to be patient - for example The trumpet flower needs 4 to 5 years until it has sufficiently established itself in its location for this show of strength.

To note:

• Most varieties bloom between July and October
• With some varieties and in warm weather even from June
• The first flowering after planting takes about 4 to 5 years

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Which location is suitable?

Trumpet flowers prefer a sunny, warm location. It should also be protected from rough winds. It is also advantageous if, in contrast to the upper plant area, its base is not exposed to full sunlight. You can shade the root area with a ground cover, for example. However, this should have loose roots so that it does not restrict the flat roots of the trumpet flower.

Trumpet flowers do best in generally milder, drier climates than cool, wet areas. In the south of Germany you can basically count on better success than in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

The trumpet flower does not place high demands on the floor. It should be moderately rich in nutrients, sufficiently moist, relatively clayey, but still permeable. The trumpet flower is hardly interested in the pH value, it can cope with both acidic and alkaline soils.

The location requirement at a glance:

• warm and sunny
• sheltered from the wind
• Shaded floor area
• Soil moderately rich in nutrients, moist, well drained
• pH value does not matter

Watering the trumpet flower

As a shallow root, the trumpet flower requires a very careful watering practice. Make sure that the root area does not dry out too much and water regularly, especially during longer dry periods in summer. Depending on the size of the plant, the water requirement is also greater. If you keep the trumpet flower in the bucket, it is of course necessary to give it water a little more regularly. However, you should avoid waterlogging as much as possible. Always wait until the potting soil has dried well before watering again.

Fertilize the trumpet flower properly

When planting it is advisable to sprinkle the trumpet flower with ripe compost Excavation to provide a constant source of nutrition. A fresh addition of compost every spring is also very good for her. But you shouldn't go beyond this organic fertilizer. Above all, avoid nitrogenous liquid preparations - they only fuel growth in size to the disadvantage of the flower.

cut

Since the trumpet flower generally shows strong growth, regular pruning is an essential chapter in its care. To rejuvenate and increase vitality, it is best to first remove all dead, dried-up twigs in spring. For the targeted promotion of a lush flowering, you can also radically shorten all long side shoots on the main shoots so that the plant is encouraged to form new short shoots. Make sure that a few buds are retained at a time.

A trumpet flower can also handle radical pruning. You can completely put them back on the cane - this usually results in a strong new shoot and acts as an effective, fundamental makeover. However, you will have to do without a flower in the following year.

The cutting rules at a glance:

• vigorously growing trumpet flowers should be cut back regularly
• Cut back in spring
• Remove old tendrils, shorten long side shoots to promote flowering
• Rejuvenating radical pruning is well tolerated

Hardy

The American and the great trumpet flowers are hardy - so you can safely cultivate them outdoors. However, the winter hardiness is not entirely unlimited. The tolerance limit of the American trumpet flower and the hybrid is around -17 ° C - in extreme winters, damage from the cold cannot be ruled out. Especially freshly planted young plants should be protected from the cold in the first few years in winter with leaves and fir branches in the root area.

To note:

• American and great trumpet flowers are hardy
• Especially protect young specimens from frost damage with branches or in a cold house when the temperature is very severe

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Trumpet flower in the pot

You can also cultivate a trumpet flower in a tub, because with regular pruning it can be kept quite compact. In a solitary position, however, a trellis framework is necessary to which the looping tendrils can hold. You should put together the soil substrate rich in humus and implement drainage from coarse sand. Pour and Fertilize With compost, you should take a little more small steps when cultivating the bucket.

The trumpet flower only needs to be repotted if the pot is too narrow and the roots grow out of the lower pot holes.

The trumpet flower is also a bit more sensitive to frost in the bucket. As a rule, however, it can be overwintered outside. If the temperatures drop below -10 ° C, it is better to put them in a cold house or take them with you Garden fleece cover.

To note:

• Pot culture possible with regular pruning
• Install climbing aid
• humus-rich substrate with sand drainage
• regular watering and composting
• Repot only when the roots are too short
• Better to spend the winter in a cold house

Propagate trumpet flower

Recommended methods for trumpet flower propagation are above all:

• Sinker
• Use of spurs

Sinker

The best way to propagate a trumpet flower is to use the lowering method. To do this, put a woody shoot in a planter with soil in the spring and fix it with a metal hook. Keep the substrate evenly moist. The rooting takes place gradually over the vegetation phase. You should not separate the plant from the mother plant until the following year and then continue to cultivate it protected from frost.

Foothills

Another method is to use foothills. The trumpet flower preferably forms runners in loose ground. So here you can easily access and first plant the separated young plants in pots in spring.

Seed cultivation

It is of course also possible to propagate the trumpet flower using your own seeds. However, you will then usually receive a specimen that is not particularly blooming. After the fruit has ripened, the seeds are collected from the plant and allowed to dry. Before sowing - this can be done all year round - they should be soaked in water for about 6 hours. To germinate in the pot with Potting soil the seeds take a long time - about 4 weeks.
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Diseases and pests

Fortunately, trumpet flowers are very resistant to disease and pests. Common but rather harmless ailments are mildew and aphids.

mildew

You can recognize powdery mildew by the characteristic and eponymous floury coating on the leaves. However, the impairment of the plant is moderate. You also do not need to use aggressive artificial means to combat it - you should first cut out the diseased parts of the plant. A spray cure with a milk-water mixture in a ratio of 1: 9 can also be helpful. With strong resp. a fungicide may be necessary in the case of advanced infestation.

Aphids

You can usually get these parasites under control by showering them with water. What also helps is to use a stock made from nettles instead of water.

Trumpet flower does not bloom

When it comes to this topic, it should first be remembered that a freshly planted trumpet flower needs 3 to 4 years before it has gathered enough strength for a first bloom. So you don't have to hope for the blaze of color during this time. If an established specimen does not flower, it could be for one of the following reasons:

• Wrong location
• Missing cut back
• Specimen grown from seed

Wrong location

The trumpet flower is an extremely sun and warmth-loving plant. A location that is too dark, cold and possibly still draughty can spoil the flowering pleasure. Young buds in particular can also freeze off in early spring under such conditions.

Missing cut back

The rejuvenation cure in spring by pruning the shoots is very important for good flowering. Because the trumpet flower only forms flowers on the fresh shoots - but if there is no cut, new branches may not be able to sprout at all.

Specimen grown from seed

A trumpet flower propagated by seedlings is generally rather unwilling to bloom. Therefore, propagation using your own seeds is not recommended. However, some purchased specimens can also be grown from seeds - this method is the most cost-effective. When buying, therefore, ensure that you have a reputable origin and do not fall back on the cheapest offer!
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Tip:

If you want to prevent the trumpet flower from spreading uncontrollably, cut the fruit off before it ripens. Even if the plant is very beautiful, it can also become a plague if it is so eager to seek it out.

sorts

Madame Galen

Madame Galen is one of the most common varieties of the hybrid trumpet flower Campsis tagliabuana, the great climbing trumpet. Madame Galen has a slightly weaker growth than the wild Campsis radicans, but still gets an average of 5 meters high. It should also be provided with a climbing aid. Its flowers are attractive in color with yellowish-orange tubes and a scarlet funnel opening. They open from July and usually persist well into September.

Flava

The Campsis radicans Flava delights with its beautiful, sun-yellow flowers that appear between July and September. It grows very quickly and is therefore particularly suitable for quick greening of walls. The twisting tendrils quickly overhang, so that a stable climbing aid is indispensable. Like its original form, the flava needs a sunny, warm location and would like to be shaded at the roots. Compared to the wild form, this variety is slightly smaller with an average height of around 3 meters. It also does not tolerate bitterly cold temperatures - you should expect a maximum of -10 ° C.

flamenco

This variety of the American trumpet flower impresses above all with its particularly large and numerous flowers in deep orange-red. The flowers also appear a little earlier than those of the wild Campsis radicans. It forms around 10 to 15 flowers per cluster. In good conditions, the Campsis radicans Flamenco reaches up to 10 meters in height. It is very robust against frost.

Indian summer

The Indian Summer variety is also a hybrid of the great climbing trumpet. It gets its name from the bright orange color of its long flowers, which can appear from June and stay until October. The Indian Summer prefers a sunny to partially shaded location and reaches a moderate height of about 4 to 5 meters. Since it grows very quickly, it is well suited for walls and railings that need to be greened quickly.