PlantFiles: Crossvine, Cross-Vine, Trumpet Flower
Bignonia capreolata

Bignonia species can become very invasive after a few years. Underground runners or suckers can come up 30+ feet or more from the original root ball. Once this happens, there will be cross vine suckers coming up all over the place. At that stage, it is very difficult to completely eradicate. The short bloom period did not prove to be very good at attracting hummingbirds.
I have found that the variety 'Tangerine Beauty' is comparatively tame and non-invasive. I hope it stays that way. Even the hummingbirds seem to prefer this variety over the species.

I live in Central Ohio and have a weekend getaway in SE Ohio. I noticed this orange trumpet flower in the spring. It was growing wild up two of my fence posts. Back in Yellow Springs, OH I've noticed the same plant growing up trees and covering the base of the tree. Birds must be spreading the seeds. I love Hummingbirds so now that I know the Cross vine attracts them, I'll grow them closer to the house. I was wondering how to grow them so now I look for the seed pods. Thanks to the info on this website.

I live in east central Florida and I planted my cross vine about 2 years ago. Both years we had a few 32 degree nights; it seemed to barely notice and is blooming like mad this year...it's early March and it is lovely! I haven't given it much food or water and it's in on a south wall;lots of sun. To disguise the leggy lower portion, I planted passiflora at the base, fully prepared to prune!

Had a Crossvine on a heavily sunlit 6-foot trellis for 8 years--finally gave up on it this spring--it was definitely not evergreen, though gorgeous when in full leaf and flower. It just started looking ratty and stringy from about November to May, with dead (or no) leaves and grey tendrils and a few spent blossoms still hanging on. After two years of that, we decided the bare arbor looked better! Anybody else have that problem--or have a replacement suggestion that won't eat the house?

Rock Hill, SC

This is by far the nicest vine in my yard and I have many, many vines. In my OKC, zone 7 garden, Tangerine Crossvine is evergreen, although the blooms are so numerous off and on throughout the summer and into fall that the foliage seems to disappear! My three-year-old crossvine has nearly covered a metal shed, something no other vine I've tried has been able to do, probably because of the intense heat. It seems to like half day, afternoon sun, deep watering in especially hot weather, compost mulch, and both Miracid and Holly Tone organic fertilizer. Hummingbirds love it. Oddly enough, it also attracted a rare (for this area) painted bunting that stripped off all the petals and ate the sweet centers of the flowers during one spring flush of bloom this year! It is a nice, tidy vine that can easily be shaped to fit its location. I work at a nursery and highly recommend this plant to customers who want a vine that looks good in the landscape all year round.

Wow! My husband planted this in FULL shade on the northside of our house, it is in full bloom and it is the fastest growing vine I have ever seen.

I found this plant growing in the woods along a dirt road in Lumberton, Mississippi -- that is southern Mississippi. It is extremely beautiful and was growing wild on stumps and in trees and bushes. It receives no care and lives in hot wet weather. I hope to get some seeds next time I go by. Lumberton is in zip code 39455.

I, too, worried about the effects of the freeze on the Crossvine. There is a huge stand of it growing along a roadside near me, and in passing, it looks okay. I haven't had a chance to stop and inspect it closely but plan to do so soon.

This is newly planted in my garden, a large two gallon plant and is thriving, already showing blooms until a very late frost last night. Does anyone know if this late frost will damage the plant and what might I expect in length of time for it to recover.

Crossvine, Cross-Vine, Trumpet Flower Bignonia capreolata is Native to Texas and other States.

while this plant might LIKE moist soil it grows in my garden that i named THE GARDEN THAT TEXAS CAN'T KILL. no water, no fertilizer, all day complete west side texas sun and has been there for over 5 years. 'nuff said. i like this plant.

growing this year, will see how it takes the winters here in my 5b gardens with some protection.

We planted the coral crossvine on our 6 ft. wooden fence 5 years ago. It is leafy and dark green year round and slopes over the fence making it nice to look at during our "winter" in Austin, TX. When blooming, it is very thickly covered in orangey/pinkish colored blooms. My husband once accidentally cut it to the ground with the weed wacker, and it came back. We have never had a problem with it being invasive. It does spread but doesn't pop up everywhere. Also, we have never watered it, and it still thrives. It was planted on the shady side of the fence and slopes over the sunny side.

I started 2 plants from seed this year so this is my first year with this plant. It did take a while for the seeds to germinate but the plants have continued to grow and thrive all summer long. I will be anxious to see how they fair over the winter and how much growth they put on next year here in western NY.

It is very hot and dry in West Texas. The crossvine is great. My vines are less than 2 years old and are pest-free. They were completely covered with blooms in April and now in August have a few blooms again. The leaves are glossy and green and have not burned like so many plants do in our 100+ degree weather.

This is a fast-growing,high-climbing woody vine with opposite,compound leaves having just two leaflets that are 3"-5" long with a long slender tendril between them.The trumpet-shaped,fragrant flowers,are red-brown on the outside and yellow-orange on the inside.They are 2-3 inches long and in clusters of 2-5.You can plant at the base of trees as it searches for the sunlight.It spreads by root sprouting and can become invasive.The vines name comes from the fact that if you cut a stem you will see a cross in the cut stem.Hummingbirds love this vine.