![]() ![]() Trumpet vine is gorgeous but best avoided in the landscape. Dirr.Ī member of the trumpet creeper family ( Bignoniaceae), crossvine is sometimes mistaken for the trumpet vine, which is also called trumpet creeper ( Campsis radicans). The blossoms have a distinctive mocha scent, according to renowned plantsman Dr. The flowers of the species are generally orange-red and may have a contrasting yellow interior. Lasting up to four weeks, the showy orange-red, yellow or orange flowers are 2 inches long and 1-1/2 inches wide and hang in clusters of two to five flowers. The most prominent feature of crossvine is its generous spring display of fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers, which bloom on old wood. ![]() These unique anatomical structures enable crossvine to cling to fences, walls, trees and other vertical structures without support. To quote botanist Larry Mellichamp in his book Native Plants of the Southeast, “Only one vine climbs by claws on the tips of its tendrils and this is crossvine: it grabs the bark and climbs, later using roots for a tighter grasp.” (p. The individual leaves are 4- to 6-inches long by 2 inches wide and are positioned opposite one another with a third leaflet that is modified into a tendril with a claw at the tip. The evergreen, or semi-evergreen, foliage is glossy and dark green in summer, darkening to maroon or purple in winter. Crossvine gets its name from the cross-shaped pattern on the inside (pith) of the stems. In its native habitat, it can be found in forested flood plains and uplands as well as along fencerows and limestone escarpments. Native to the United States, it is generally found growing wild in the southeastern part of the country and the south central states as far west as Texas. Not many vines fit this description, but Crossvine ( Bignonia capreolata) comes very close.Ĭrossvine is a heavy-flowering, woody perennial vine that stretches 30 to 50 feet high and spreads from 6 to 9 feet wide. The ideal solution to these problems is to choose a long-flowering, evergreen vine that is well mannered and stays put in the space allotted to it. Furthermore, if they are deciduous, they may not add much interest to the garden a good part of the year. In addition, many of them must be trained onto a support of some sort. All too often, they require lots of maintenance to keep them sized properly. While vines offer a lot to the landscape, the problem with some of them is that they may grow too large for the space they’re given. The sight of a climbing rose on a trellis, a wisteria vine on an arbor, or a twining clematis on a tuteur almost always elicit admiring glances from passersby. Many climbing or vining plants have fragrant blossoms and present lots of color at eye level. ![]() They add a vertical accent, which often provides interesting textural and dimensional aspects to what might otherwise be a flat or uninteresting garden vista. Vining or climbing plants serve a very specific purpose in the landscape. ![]()
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