The trumpet vine, or Campsis radicans, is a popular climbing plant known for its beautiful orange-red trumpet shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds. While the species plant can be overly aggressive, a lovely cultivar called Campsis Indian Summer offers similar flowers on a slower growing, more polite vine.
Campsis Indian Summer, also known by the synonyms Campsis tagliabuana ‘Kudian’ and Campsis ‘Kudian’, is a deciduous woody vine in the Bignoniaceae family. It was likely a cross between Campsis radicans and Campsis grandiflora. This Trumpet vine cultivar grows to a mature height between 12-15 feet with a spread of 3-5 feet. It climbs by aerial rootlets and attaches itself to structures.
The dark green leaves are compound and odd-pinnate, meaning they are made up leaflets arranged opposite each other along the midrib. There are usually 7-9 elliptic to oblong leaflets up to 4 inches long. In the fall, the leaves turn a nice yellow.
From July through August, Campsis Indian Summer produces clusters of showy trumpet-shaped orange-red flowers about 3 inches long. The flowers have a yellowish orange color with a reddish throat. They attract hummingbirds and provide a bold pop of color during the summer.
Growing Conditions for Campsis Indian Summer
This trumpet vine grows well in full sun to partial shade. It adapts to a wide variety of soil types and pH levels. Campsis Indian Summer prefers evenly moist soils but is drought tolerant once established. It does well in USDA plant hardiness zones 4-9.
Provide a very sturdy structure for the vines to climb. A trellis, fence, or wall works well. Prune back overly long stems in late winter to keep growth under control. Most varieties of trumpet vine don’t require much pruning, but it can help reduce unwanted spread.
Advantages of Campsis Indian Summer
There are several reasons why Campsis Indian Summer makes an excellent addition to gardens:
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Less aggressive growth – Unlike the species trumpet vine which can spread rapidly and take over areas, Campsis Indian Summer is better behaved. It has a lower profile and is less invasive in the landscape.
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Long bloom period – The flowers bloom for months, starting in summer and lasting into early fall. This provides an extended period of color.
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Attracts hummingbirds – The red trumpet flowers attract hummingbirds, which is a benefit for gardens.
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Tolerant of heat and drought – Once established, this trumpet vine handles heat and drier conditions quite well Its drought tolerance makes it a good choice for xeriscaping.
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Adapts to various soils – Campsis Indian Summer grows well in different types of soil, including clay, loam, sand, chalky, and alkaline soils.
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Less maintenance – While regular pruning helps keep growth under control, overall Campsis Indian Summer is lower maintenance than the species.
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Great for walls or fences – The vining growth habit makes it perfectly suited for growing on walls, trellises, arbors, or fencing.
Potential Drawbacks
There are a couple potential drawbacks to consider:
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It still spreads faster than some homeowners would like. Careful placement and pruning is required to keep the trumpet vine from spreading out of bounds.
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The vine produces aerial rootlets that cling very tightly. Take care not to grow it directly on painted or delicate surfaces which could get damaged when removing vines.
An Excellent Flowering Vine
With its abundant orange-red blooms that attract hummingbirds and butterflies all summer, Campsis Indian Summer trumpet vine delivers visual impact to gardens. Its heat and drought tolerance makes it ideal for hot, dry areas of the landscape. Place this vine accordingly and prune as needed to keep growth under control, and you’ll enjoy this flowering vine for years to come.
Campsis ‘Indian summer’ and wildlife
Campsis ‘Indian summer’ has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Trumpet Vine – BEWARE this Hummingbird Magnet has a Dangerous Side – Why grow Campsis Radicans
FAQ
Is the Indian summer trumpet vine invasive?
‘Indian Summer’ is a charming hybrid between Campsis radicans (American Trumpet Vine) and Campsis grandiflora (Chinese Trumpet Vine). It is a more compact and manageable Trumpet vine which is reportedly less invasive than the species.
Where is the best place to plant a trumpet vine?
The best place to plant trumpet vine is a sunny location with well-draining soil, ideally away from structures like your house or valuable plants, as it can be invasive.
What are the cons of trumpet vines?
Toxicity. Trumpet vine’s sap has a skin irritant that makes some people and livestock itch if they come into contact with it, hence one of its common names: cow itch vine.
Do you cut back trumpet vine every year?
Pruning should be done in the late winter or early spring. For mature plants, trumpet creeper tolerates heavy pruning to control its spread and maintain a desired size. Prune annually, spur-pruning lateral shoots back to within two or three buds of the main stems. Remove weak and diseased growth.