# Trumpet Creeper (*Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. ex Bureau*) The Trumpet Creeper is a beautiful climbing plant with bright red or orange trumpet-shaped flowers. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies with its sweet nectar. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests, Urban areas ![Trumpet Creeper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hans_Simon_Holtzbecker%252C_Campsis_radicans_almindelig_trompetblomst_%252C_%252C_KKSgb2948-57%252C_Statens_Museum_for_Kunst.jpg&width=800) Photo: Hans Simon Holtzbecker, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hans_Simon_Holtzbecker%252C_Campsis_radicans_almindelig_trompetblomst_%252C_%252C_KKSgb2948-57%252C_Statens_Museum_for_Kunst.jpg) ## Appearance The Trumpet Creeper is a robust, woody vine known for its striking, large trumpet-shaped flowers. These vibrant blooms are typically orange to reddish-orange, sometimes yellow, and grow in clusters. Its opposing, toothed leaves are dark green and pinnately compound, forming a dense canopy. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Bignoniaceae - **Genus:** Campsis ## Interesting facts - Its seeds hide in long, brown pods that split open like tiny boats. - Native American tribes once used parts of this plant for traditional remedies. - The flowers point downward to keep sweet nectar safe from pouring rain. - This super climber can live for over 50 years, becoming very sturdy! ## Special abilities - **Strong Gripper:** Trumpet Creeper can cling to surfaces using tough aerial roots, helping it climb very high. - **Hummingbird Magnet:** Trumpet Creeper has bright, tubular flowers filled with sweet nectar that attracts hummingbirds. - **Speedy Spreader:** Trumpet Creeper can grow incredibly fast and spread widely to cover large areas quickly. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-1200 cm - **Spread:** 200-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-9 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Bird ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — sips nectar from bright flowers - **Symbiotic with:** Pale Field Ant (*Formica pallidefulva*) — protects leaves from herbivores for nectar - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen from flowers ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Tube Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tube-flower): A tube flower has petals fused together at the base, forming a distinct tubular structure that typically holds nectar deep within. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Enjoy the beauty of the Trumpet Creeper from a safe distance to avoid contact with any irritants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Trumpet Creeper? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Trumpet Creeper? 300-1200 cm ### How wide does Trumpet Creeper spread? 200-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on Trumpet Creeper? 5-9 cm ### When does Trumpet Creeper bloom? Summer to Fall ### Is Trumpet Creeper edible? No ### Is Trumpet Creeper toxic? Mild ### What is Trumpet Creeper's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Trumpet Creeper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/trumpet-creeper)