Campsis radicans Stromboli - Trumpet Vine

The Trumpet Creeper or Campsis radicans 'Stromboli' is a lovely form with blood-red flowers and rather early flowering of this sturdy climber also known as Trumpet Vine or Virginia Jasmine. Its clusters of shiny flowers bloom from July onwards, throughout the summer, on a fairly wide, bright green foliage that is quite elegant. Very easy to grow in all regions, this trumpet creeper also has the advantage of attaching itself to its support, like ivy, which makes it very useful for covering a wall or reviving a dead tree for example. Its moderate growth allows it to be accommodated in a small-sized garden, or even in a large pot.

Campsis radicans, from the Bignoniaceae family, is native to the state of Virginia in the southeastern United States, specifically from a geographical area covering Missouri, Texas, and Virginia. In the wild, it can be found in wooded areas. Not prone to diseases and pests, Campsis radicans tolerates cold weather as well as heat and drought once well established. It is undemanding in terms of soil, as long as it is deep enough to accommodate its fairly developed root system. 'Stromboli' was selected in Nantes by Minier in 2006.

It is a sarmentous shrub with slightly suckering roots, and its growth is quite fast. When mature, Campsis Stromboli will reach about 6m (20ft) in height and 4m (13ft) in width. The long branches bear leaves divided into 7 to 11 ovate lanceolate leaflets, with toothed edges, in a bright green colour. The foliage turns golden yellow in autumn before falling off. The stems produce very short and close adventitious roots that allow the plant to attach itself to a tree or a wall. Flowering occurs from July to September, on the new shoots. It takes the form of terminal clusters (or cymes) consisting of 4 to 12 very bright red flowers, in the shape of long trumpets. Each flower is composed of a long tubular calyx spreading into 5 lobes that reveal a prominent pistil. After being pollinated by insects, the flowers are followed by brown pods containing a large number of small winged seeds that will be dispersed by the wind. With age, the copper-brown bark that covers the branches peels off in flakes.

Campsis radicans Stromboli is a good wall covering plant in a sunny position, a very pretty solution for fences and utility constructions, and can also be grown in a large container to decorate patios and balconies. For example, you can associate it with other unique climbing plants such as Akebia quinata Silver Bells, Actinidia kolomikta, Holboellia coriacea, or Clematis Blue Angel, which is very blue, to create a scene full of colours.