| The name "Trumpet Vine" is used for a number | | | | in form and leaf texture as Tecoma stans, but |
| of climbing plants, landscape shrubs and small | | | | grows spectacular orange flowers instead of |
| trees that possess prominent yellow and orange | | | | yellow. |
| toned flowers whose shape resembles that of a | | | | Another plant variously named "Trumpet Vine" or |
| flared trumpet bell. They belong to the | | | | "Trumpet Creeper" is the rampant climber, |
| Bignoniaceae botanical family, and although mostly | | | | Campsis radicans. While the shrub species |
| of sub-tropical origin, can be grown on a tight | | | | mentioned, function as screens or informal |
| water budget, and are hardy to light frosts. | | | | hedges, Trumpet Creeper, as a self-clinging vine, |
| Trumpet vines are therefore ideally suited to | | | | can be allowed to climb up and cover a wall. No |
| Mediterranean and dry climate gardens. | | | | one who has seen this plant in the glory of its full |
| As landscaping bushes, Trumpet vines form a | | | | bloom, (reddish-orange flowers) can remain |
| loose screen, sporting colorful blooms | | | | indifferent. Campsis though, is very aggressive |
| intermittently through the year. They tend to | | | | and it is best to avoid planting it next to the |
| have a similar leaf shape and fine to medium | | | | house, but rather on a freestanding wall instead. |
| texture in common. Most are species, hybrids or | | | | Other combinations and associations |
| varieties of the genus Tecoma, once known | | | | When choosing a plant or as in the case of |
| variously as Stenolobium and Tecomaria. | | | | Trumpet vines, a group of similar plants, it is |
| For example, Yellow Trumpet, Tecoma stans, if | | | | always necessary to consider how they work |
| pruned once or twice a year, can be maintained | | | | with the rest of the plants in the garden. Trumpet |
| at a height of 3-4 meters. If left untouched, it will | | | | bushes combine well for instance with a number |
| form into a small tree. Best results are obtained in | | | | of shrubs from the legume family. Senna |
| this regard though, following careful pruning and | | | | corymbosa, with its yellow blooms, is a case in |
| shaping. Cape Honeysuckle, Tecoma capensis, is | | | | point as the leaf shape and texture are so similar |
| somewhat more vine like in growth habit and so | | | | to those of the Trumpet vines. |
| must be regularly pruned to maintain a bushy | | | | When choosing herbaceous material, whether |
| form. Excessive pruning however will deplete the | | | | annual or perennial, thought should be given to |
| plant of its attractive orange blooms. | | | | colors that either contrast well with the orange |
| Different species and varieties can be combined | | | | and yellow hues of the Trumpet vines, or blend in |
| to effect a variation on a theme, always a good | | | | comfortably with them. In this respect, flowers |
| strategy for creating a unified but stimulating plant | | | | like Bidens and Eschscolzia, with their respective |
| composition. For instance, the cultivar, "Golden | | | | yellow and orange colors complement subtly the |
| Jubilee", seemingly a hybrid between the Yellow | | | | dominant motif established by the different |
| Trumpet and Cape Honeysuckle, is almost identical | | | | varieties of Trumpet vine. |