On its own initiative one native plant has taken on the task of beautifying Columbia wherever the opportunity arises. The deciduous clinging woody vine ascends to great heights trumpeting its achievements from telephone poles, pillars, host trees, towers, and even rooftops. Garden writer Steve Bender predicts it could easily scale the Eiffel Tower.

Whether you know the perennial climber as trumpet vine, trumpet creeper, cowitch, bignonia, hellvine, or devil’s shoestring, Campsis radicans, has tenacious tendencies. The vine roots in any type of soil and prospers between city pavements. The sunnier the location, the better the flowering will be.

Clusters of bright orange, red, or yellow 3”-4” long waxy tubular flowers are a hummingbird magnet. Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History in York cultivates massive amounts of the vine for its hummingbird banding project.

The woody vine has lengthy and sturdy stems. Naturalist Bill Hilton observes that the five month flowering period of the vine coincides perfectly with the summer residency of the ruby–throat. He hypothesizes that trumpet creeper is the single most important nectar source for the species. The fruit of trumpet creeper is a six– inch long narrow pod filled with lightweight flat seeds designed to be dispersed by wind.

Besides reproducing readily from seed, cuttings, and layering, the perennial vine sends suckers through the soil. Rapid spread by suckers makes trumpet vine useful for erosion control projects. In the wild the vine is found in open woods, thickets, fence rows, roadsides, and along railroad tracks.

Anyone can succeed in growing trumpet creeper. The plant needs minimal care once it establishes itself —no fertilizer, little water, no lime. Few pests or diseases afflict the vine. Prune in early spring to tidy, tailor, and control growth.

This vine has chosen a telephone pole for support in showing its finest features. When left to its own devices and with lots of space to stretch, the vine which clings to surfaces by aerial rootlets can create a spectacular show. One of the most striking specimens can be seen in the back parking lot of the southeast branch of the Richland County Public Library. The vine, encircling and covering a telephone pole, looks like a gigantic flowering totem pole. No landscape designer could have executed a more beautiful fountain of flowers against the dark green pinnately compound leaves.

For gardeners who don’t mind tangling with assertive vines, trumpet creeper will delight.