How to Care for Campsis grandiflora (Chinese trumpet creeper)
Korean name: 능소화
A woody climber that covers walls and fences with clusters of orange, trumpet-shaped flowers in midsummer. It clings with aerial roots and is cold-hardy. The belief that its pollen causes blindness has no basis, but the sap and pollen can irritate skin and eyes, so wash your hands after pruning.
Key facts
- Category: Flowering plant
- Difficulty: Easy
- Where to keep: outdoors
- Native to: China
- Growth rate: Fast
- Pets: Mildly toxic, so keep pets from chewing on it.
- Flower meaning: Honour, longing
- Traits: Woody climber, Summer flowers, Walls and fences, Cold-hardy
- Also known as: Chinese trumpet creeper, Chinese trumpet vine
Care Guide
- Light: Direct sun. Without enough sun it grows lots of leaves and few flowers.
- Watering: In the ground, rain is usually enough. In a pot, water thoroughly when the topsoil is dry.
- Soil: Ordinary well-draining soil
- Humidity: No special care needed
- Temperature: -15–35°C. It overwinters outdoors in Korea.
- Fertilizer: Slow-release fertiliser once in early spring. Too much nitrogen means fewer flowers.
Detailed care guide
Chinese trumpet creeper is a woody climber that covers walls with orange trumpet flowers in midsummer. It is tough and cold-hardy, and grows well in sun.
Watering
In the ground, rain is usually enough. In a pot, water thoroughly when the topsoil is dry. During a long summer drought, give plants in the ground a drink too.
Light
It needs direct sun. Without enough, it grows plenty of leaves but hardly flowers.
Humidity
No special attention to humidity is needed.
Temperature
It tolerates -15–35°C and overwinters outdoors in Korea. Mulch around young plants with straw or leaves for their first winter.
A common first-timer mistake
Flowers form at the tips of the current year’s growth. Cut last year’s shoots back hard in early spring and you get more new shoots — and more flowers.
If you have pets
The sap and pollen can irritate skin and eyes. The claim that the pollen causes blindness has no basis, but wash your hands after pruning.
Through the Seasons
Prune in early spring before new growth and give it one dose of slow-release fertiliser. Flowers run from late June through August. In summer, train the vines where you want them; once the leaves drop in autumn there's nothing to do over winter.
Common Problems and Fixes
The most common reasons it won't flower are too little sun, too much nitrogen, or no pruning and therefore few new shoots. Rinse aphids off new growth with water or cut those tips off. Suckers from the roots spread easily, so remove them as you see them.
Repotting and Propagation
In a pot, move it up a size every 2–3 years. It propagates easily from spring cuttings or layering, and suckers from the roots can be separated and planted.
Who It's Good For
It suits anyone with a garden who wants to cover a wall, fence or facade with summer flowers. Once established, it flowers every year with little effort.
Written by AI from the care facts in this entry. Treat it as a starting point.
Common questions
How often should you water Campsis grandiflora?
In the ground, rain is usually enough. In a pot, water thoroughly when the topsoil is dry. Roughly every 5 days is the baseline; adjust for the season and the spot it sits in.
Where should you keep Campsis grandiflora?
It likes Direct sun. Without enough sun it grows lots of leaves and few flowers.. You can grow it outdoors. Use Ordinary well-draining soil.
Is Campsis grandiflora safe around pets?
Mildly toxic, so keep pets from chewing on it.
Is Campsis grandiflora good for beginners?
Difficulty: Easy. It is forgiving enough for a first plant. Keep it around -15–35°C. It overwinters outdoors in Korea.. Humidity: No special care needed. Fertilise Slow-release fertiliser once in early spring. Too much nitrogen means fewer flowers..