Trumpetcreeper (Campsis radicans 'Apricot')
Campsis radicans 'Apricot' is a vigorous, apricot-flowered Trumpetcreeper vine for zones 4-9, offering fast cover and hummingbird appeal.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Campsis radicans ‘Apricot’ is a highly vigorous, deciduous woody vine prized for its dense covering capabilities and stunning summer blooms. This cultivar of Trumpetcreeper offers gardeners a more manageable form compared to the aggressive species while still attracting abundant wildlife, especially hummingbirds, with its distinctive flowers. It attaches securely to structures using aerial rootlets, meaning it can quickly transform fences, trellises, or walls into vibrant vertical accents.
The main draw of growing Campsis radicans ‘Apricot’ is its rapid growth rate and tolerance for diverse conditions, thriving in everything from poor to average soils once established. While the species is notoriously aggressive, the ‘Apricot’ variant is reported to be somewhat less prone to spreading profusely via suckering runners, making it a slightly better option for maintained landscapes. Planting this vine provides excellent quick cover in hot, dry locations and reliably delivers a show of yellowish-orange flowers throughout the peak summer months.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Bignoniaceae
- Plant Type: Vine
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 12-15 ft
- Spread: 3-5 ft
- Bloom Time: July to August
- Bloom Description: Yellowish-orange
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: High
How to Grow
The best time to establish your Campsis radicans ‘Apricot’ is typically when dormant, allowing it to focus energy on root establishment before summer growth. It tolerates a wide variety of soils, but prefers lean to average soil with consistent moisture, particularly when young. Ensure the chosen location receives full sun for the most abundant flowering, though it can tolerate partial shade (noting that foliage grows better in shade, but blooms suffer).
Ongoing care requires diligence due to the vine’s aggressive nature. Vines must be grown on very sturdy support structures as mature plants develop significant weight. Since Campsis radicans ‘Apricot’ blooms reliably on new spring growth, aggressive early spring pruning will not sabotage your flower display; in fact, pruning is essential to manage size and vigor. While the species typically suckers heavily, this cultivar is reportedly more contained, but always monitor the base for unwanted runners.
Landscape Uses
Trumpetcreeper is supremely suited for naturalizing large areas or quickly screening unsightly features. It excels at providing rapid, dense cover across fences, arbors, and robust trellises, making it an excellent practical choice where privacy is needed fast. Consider training Campsis radicans ‘Apricot’ along the ground to camouflage old tree stumps or uneven rock piles, allowing its climbing habit to soften hardscaping elements. Because it requires substantial room to roam and is attractive to nectar feeders, limit its use in small, formal garden settings.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Campsis radicans, commonly called trumpet vine or trumpet creeper, is a dense, vigorous, multi-stemmed, deciduous, woody, clinging vine that attaches itself to structures and climbs by aerial rootlets. Clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers appear throughout the summer, with the specific ‘Apricot’ cultivar producing lovely yellowish-orange blooms highly attractive to hummingbirds. Following flowering, the vine produces long seed pods that release numerous 2-winged seeds for wind dispersal.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Drought
- Clay Soil
Potential Problems
This plant generally faces no serious insect or disease problems, which is one reason for its hardiness. The primary challenge associated with Campsis radicans overall is its highly aggressive spreading habit, where the species readily self-seeds and suckers from underground runners, potentially choking out smaller plants nearby. While the ‘Apricot’ cultivar is noted as being somewhat less invasive than the standard Campsis radicans, consistent vigilance is required, especially regarding underground runners, to keep it confined to its intended space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Campsis radicans ‘Apricot’ suitable for?
This vigorous vine is suitable for planting in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.
How large does Trumpetcreeper grow?
Mature plants typically reach heights between 12 and 15 feet with a spread of 3 to 5 feet.
When does Trumpetcreeper bloom?
Campsis radicans ‘Apricot’ sends out its beautiful blooms during the peak summer months, specifically from July to August.
What sun exposure does Campsis radicans ‘Apricot’ need?
For the best flowering performance, this vine requires full sun exposure, although it can tolerate partial shade.
Conclusion
The Campsis radicans ‘Apricot’ delivers spectacular, long-lasting summer color and essential habitat for hummingbirds, making it an invaluable choice for filling large vertical spaces. Despite requiring high maintenance to manage its vigor, its exceptional drought and clay soil tolerance simplifies its establishment. Before planting, ensure you have structurally sound support and check that your local climate falls within reliable USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9.
Wildlife Benefits
The trumpet shape of the flowers on the Trumpetcreeper species is perfectly adapted for hummingbirds, who rely on these tubular blossoms for nectar throughout the summer. When planning your garden, locating Campsis radicans ‘Apricot’ near windows or decks can provide dynamic viewing opportunities as pollinators visit the yellowish-orange blooms daily. Planting nearby native nectar sources can further enhance the corridor effect this vine creates for local avian life.
Companion Planting
Due to the aggressive nature of vigorous vines, Campsis radicans ‘Apricot’ should be sited carefully away from delicate, slower-growing companion plants. Excellent partners thrive in similar hot, sunny conditions and can handle the structure or occasional shade cast by the vine. Consider pairing it with tough, sun-loving perennials like Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) or sturdy ornamental grasses that compete well for space without being smothered.
