Trumpet vines, also known as trumpet creepers, are beautiful flowering vines that produce trumpet-shaped blooms in vibrant colors. Some common names for trumpet vines include:
Campsis
Campsis is the botanical genus name for trumpet vines. There are two main species in this genus:
- Campsis radicans – Common trumpet vine
- Campsis grandiflora – Chinese trumpet vine
Both of these species are referred to as “campsis” when discussing them scientifically. Campsis radicans is native to eastern North America and is the most common trumpet vine grown. Campsis grandiflora is native to China and Japan.
Common Trumpet Vine
Campsis radicans, the common trumpet vine, is also known by several other common names including:
- Trumpet creeper
- Cow itch vine
- Hellvine
- Devil’s shoestring
- Hummingbird vine
“Trumpet creeper” is perhaps the most widely used common name for Campsis radicans other than “trumpet vine.” The name refers to the vine’s habit of creeping along structures and surfaces as it climbs. Other names like “cow itch vine” and “devil’s shoestring” refer to the sticky sap produced by the vines that can irritate skin. “Hellvine” likely refers to how aggressively the vines grow and spread. “Hummingbird vine” is a reference to the trumpet-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds.
Chinese Trumpet Vine
Campsis grandiflora, the Chinese trumpet vine, also goes by these other common names:
- Chinese trumpet creeper
- Chinese foxglove
- Foxglove vine
- Cow itch
Like Campsis radicans, “trumpet creeper” is a descriptive common name referring to the vine’s growth habit. “Chinese” is added to distinguish it from the North American species. “Cow itch” again refers to the sap’s skin irritation. “Chinese foxglove” and “foxglove vine” likely refer to the flowers’ resemblance to digitalis foxglove flowers.
Bignonia
Bignonia is another genus in the trumpet vine family Bignoniaceae. There are over 100 species in this genus, and some have common names referring to trumpet vines, including:
- Bignonia capreolata – Cross vine
- Bignonia aequinoctialis – St. Vincent’s trumpet vine
These species in the Bignonia genus are closely related to Campsis trumpet vines and have similar trumpet-shaped flowers. Using “trumpet vine” in their common names refers to this similarity.
Cross Vine
Bignonia capreolata, the cross vine, is named for its climbing habit where one stem crosses over another as it grows. Other common names for this species include:
- Quarter vine
- Crossvine trumpetflower
- Trumpet flower
- Louisiana trumpet flower
“Trumpet flower” and “Louisiana trumpet flower” directly associate this vine with the distinctive trumpet blooms. “Quarter vine” may refer to each stem appearing to climb in a quarter-circle pattern.
St. Vincent’s Trumpet Vine
Bignonia aequinoctialis goes by these other common names:
- Chatterbox vine
- Yellow trumpet vine
- Golden trumpet vine
“Chatterbox vine” likely refers to the sound produced when wind blows through the tubular flowers. The “yellow” and “golden” names describe the flower color of this species.
Distinguishing Features
While Campsis, Bignonia, and other genera in the Bignoniaceae family share similarities like trumpet flowers, they also have distinguishing features:
Flower Colors
| Species | Flower Colors |
|---|---|
| Campsis radicans | Scarlet, orange, red |
| Campsis grandiflora | Orange, yellow |
| Bignonia capreolata | Orange, yellow, red |
| Bignonia aequinoctialis | Yellow |
Flower color is one way to distinguish between the different trumpet vine species. Campsis radicans is known for its bright red blooms, while Bignonia aequinoctialis only produces yellow flowers.
Native Regions
| Species | Native To |
|---|---|
| Campsis radicans | Eastern North America |
| Campsis grandiflora | China, Japan |
| Bignonia capreolata | Southeastern United States |
| Bignonia aequinoctialis | South America, West Indies |
The different trumpet vines originate from different parts of the world. Knowing the native region of a species can help distinguish between them.
Climbing Mechanisms
The vines have tendrils or other means to climb surfaces:
- Campsis – Aerial rootlets or tendrils
- Bignonia capreolata – Tendrils
- Bignonia aequinoctialis – Twining leaf stems
Examining how the vines climb is another way to tell them apart. For example, Campsis uses aerial rootlets while Bignonia aequinoctialis twines its leaf stems around supports.
Conclusion
Trumpet vines encompass diverse flowering vines in the Bignoniaceae plant family under the Campsis and Bignonia genera. Depending on the species, common names include trumpet creeper, cow itch vine, cross vine, and others referencing their flowers, climbing habits, place of origin, and other features. Understanding these alternatives helps differentiate between the many types of beautiful trumpet vines.
