During this summer period, you can expect customers in your store to inquire about what they have seen blooming in someone else’s garden: the Campsis radicans, Campsis grandiflora, Campsis chinensis, or the hybrid of the last two species, the Campsis tagliabuana. The Campsis, also known as the trumpet flower, is a strong and fast-growing climbing plant that blooms profusely with beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers in the second half of the summer.
It is important to know that this Campsis is a self-clinging climbing plant, which means that small adhesive roots are formed from the branches. These adhesive roots, similar to those of ivy and climbing hydrangea, will attach along the wall or fence. In the garden, your customer can expect an exotic-looking bloom during Aug and Sep, giving the garden, veranda, or terrace a Mediterranean atmosphere. The Campsis shows its flowers relatively late in the summer, which distinguishes it from other outdoor plants.
Traditionally, we have seen the American-origin Campsis radicans or the Chinese-origin Campsis chinensis in gardens, but in recent years, the Campsis tagliabuana has become a very popular variant. The chinensis was moderately winter-hardy, and the also Chinese-origin grandiflora did not perform well in the Western European climate. From the cross between these two species came the tagliabuana, which, like the Campsis radicans, thrives in the Western European climate, provided it is placed in a sheltered and sunny spot in the garden.
The Campsis tagliabuana ‘Indian Summer’ is an orange-flowering variety that, like the orange-red flowering Campsis Summer Jazz ‘Fire Trumpet’, has a noticeably more compact growth habit compared to other Campsis species. Keep this in mind if a customer in your store is looking for a climbing plant solution for a smaller garden. The Campsis tagliabuana ‘Golden Trumpet’ starts blooming slightly earlier than other Campsis varieties, already in Jul. As the name suggests, these flowers have a more yellow color than, for example, the ‘Indian Summer’ or the orange-colored ‘Madame Galen’.
Finally, a pruning tip: Most Campsis species bloom well on the younger shoots of the past and current year. Therefore, it is advisable to prune the shoots/branches of the previous year to 2-3 ‘eyes’ from the main stem at the end of the winter period (mid-Mrt). This way, the Campsis makes a fresh start every spring, and in addition to a sunny location, the conditions are met for a profuse bloom that bees and other insects will also enjoy.
Are you interested in adding a beautiful assortment of Campsis to your range? Then check out the current offer from UP!Climbers at Hoogeveen Plants in Hazerswoude-Dorp.
