Campsis radicans

Trumpet creeper ( Campsis radicans )

The trumpet vine ( Campsis radicans ) ( Syn: . Bignonia radicans L., Tecoma radicans (L.) Juss ) is one of two species of the genus of the trumpet flowers ( Campsis ) in the family of Bignoniaceae ( Bignoniaceae ).

Description

The trumpet vine is a deciduous woody vine. Very fast growing it reaches with the help of their rootlets a height of 5-10 meters, sometimes 12 meters or more. In the absence of support options, the plant spread along the ground, forms roots and covered at the nodes of the branches in a short time large areas.

The up to 25 cm long against permanent leaves are initially light green, medium green later vigorously. They are pinnate, and usually consist of seven to eleven at the base slightly asymmetrical leaflets with serrated edges.

At the ends of the one-year shoots appear from July to September clump of trumpet-shaped, slightly zygomorphic flowers which are 5-8 cm long. The hermaphrodite flowers consist of five bell-shaped fused together sepals and five petals fused funnel-shaped. You have four curved stamens and a superior ovaries. The range of flower colors comprises predominantly orange to brick-red tones; some varieties bloom yellow.

In their homeland, the flowering plant is mainly visited by hummingbirds, which cause the pollination nectar eyes. We pollination is mainly by bees and bumblebees. It can be formed with many winged seeds capsule fruits that require a lot of heat to ripen. When popping the capsules, the seeds are dispersed by the wind.

Origin and Distribution

The trumpet vine is native to eastern North America from New Jersey and Michigan to Florida and Texas. In the 17th century it was introduced as an ornamental tree in Europe.

Location and use

American climbing trumpets preferred thrive in warm, sunny to semi- shady locations both on sandy and loamy subsoil and do not have any particular its pH. They can withstand frost down to about -20 ° C. As ornamental plants they are planted mainly due to their decorative flowers Greening of western and south walls and on walls.

Use in crafts and design

Around 1900, used the New York firm Tiffany the colors and shapes of leaves and flowers of the American trumpet vine, English: "Trumpet Creeper " when designing a floor lamp. A copy of this lamp was sold for U.S. $ 794 500 at an auction at the New York auction house Christie's on December 8, 2009.