How to plant trumpet vine: set a dormant bare-root vine in the ground in early spring, before it leafs out. In zones 7 to 9 you can also plant from late fall into winter if the soil is not frozen. Choose full sun and a strong support away from the house, set the crown level, and water well.
This guide on how to plant trumpet vine comes from TN Nursery, the third-generation family nursery in Altamont, Tennessee, growing native trees and plants since 1959. This site is TN Nursery's order and shipping help site, run by TN Nursery. Below you will find when to plant your trumpet vine for your zone, what the bare-root vine looks like in the box, and how to plant it so it climbs where you want it.
How to plant trumpet vine at the right time for your zone
Trumpet vine is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9, according to the Morton Arboretum. A bare-root vine goes in the ground while it is still dormant, which means resting, with no leaves yet. The best window depends on how cold your winters get.
| USDA zone | Best time to plant a bare-root vine | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| 4 and 5 | Early to mid spring, once the soil thaws and can be dug | Wait out hard freezes; plant before buds break |
| 6 | Early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked | Plant before new green shoots appear |
| 7 and 8 | Late fall through early spring | Skip days when the ground is frozen or waterlogged |
| 9 | Late fall through early spring | Plant early so roots settle before summer heat |
Tip: Order with your zone in mind, so the vine reaches you inside your planting window. TN Nursery's shipping page explains how and when plants ship.
What a bare-root trumpet vine looks like when it arrives
TN Nursery ships most plants bare-root and dormant. A bare-root trumpet vine arrives as woody stems with a bundle of roots and no soil. It has no leaves. That is normal: a dormant vine is resting, not dead.
- Open the box the day it arrives and check that the roots are damp.
- Keep the roots moist and out of the sun until you plant.
- Soak the roots in a bucket of water for a few hours just before planting.
- If you must wait a few days, keep the vine wrapped, damp and in a cool, shaded spot.
Choosing a spot and a sturdy support
Trumpet vine flowers best in full sun, about six hours of direct light a day. It will also grow in part sun. It handles heat and drought once settled, and it does not need rich soil.
This is a big, fast vine. It can climb 30 to 40 feet and clings with aerial rootlets, which are small roots along the stems that grip whatever they touch. Plan its support before you dig.
- Good supports: a heavy metal arbor, a stout wooden post, a strong pergola or a sturdy fence set away from buildings.
- Poor supports: a thin trellis, gutters, siding or a wall of your house. The rootlets cling to these, and the weight grows every year.
- Leave room around it: the vine can send up new shoots from its roots, so keep it clear of beds you want to stay tidy.
How to plant trumpet vine in the ground, step by step
-
Soak the roots
Stand the bare roots in water for a few hours so they are fully moist.
-
Dig a wide hole
Dig at the foot of the support. Make the hole as deep as the roots are long and about twice as wide.
-
Set the crown level
The crown is where the stems meet the roots. Spread the roots out and set the crown level with the soil around it.
-
Backfill with the soil you dug
Use the same soil. Skip rich compost: lean soil gives more flowers and less leafy growth. Firm the soil gently to remove air pockets.
-
Water it in
Water slowly until the soil is soaked around the roots.
-
Tie it to the support
Lean the stems toward the support and tie them loosely with soft garden tape. The rootlets take over as the vine grows.
Watering and feeding in the first weeks
- Keep the soil moist, not soggy, while the vine settles in and starts to leaf out.
- Water during dry spells in its first summer. After that it copes well with drought.
- Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizer near the vine. It pushes leaves at the cost of flowers.
- Do not worry if leaves are slow to show. A bare-root vine builds roots first.
Keeping trumpet vine in bounds
The Morton Arboretum notes that trumpet vine can spread by suckers and can be aggressive. Suckers are new shoots that come up from the roots, sometimes several feet away. A little care each year keeps it where you want it.
- Pull or cut suckers as soon as you see them in the lawn or beds.
- Mow around the base so new shoots cannot take hold.
- Trim stems that reach toward roofs, gutters or windows.
When to cut back trumpet vine
Cut trumpet vine back in spring, before new growth starts. It flowers on new wood, which means this year's fresh stems. Shortening side stems to a few buds each spring gives you more of them, and more of its orange to red blooms in summer.
Other climbing vines from TN Nursery
Hummingbirds love trumpet vine's flowers, and TN Nursery lists it among its birding, butterfly and deer-resistant plants. If you want another climber for a nearby arbor or fence, these come from TN Nursery too. Wisteria and Virginia creeper are strong climbers as well, so give them the same sturdy support set away from the house.
- Wisteria plant: a fragrant flowering vine that can be trained to fill a structure.
- Virginia creeper: green in spring and summer, fiery red in fall, and it climbs trellises, fences and porches.
- 15 Trellis Climbing Favorites: a set of native climbing plants chosen for your zone.
Trumpet vine planting questions
Do trumpet vines require full sun?
They flower best in full sun, which means about six hours of direct light a day. They will also grow in part sun, with four to six hours of light, but you can expect fewer blooms. Pick the sunniest spot you have that is also clear of the house.
Is trumpet vine invasive?
Trumpet vine is native to the southern United States and the Midwest, but it can be aggressive. It spreads by suckers, which are new shoots from its roots. Plant it where you can mow around it, pull suckers when you see them, and prune it each spring to keep it in bounds.
Do trumpet plants come back every year?
Yes. Trumpet vine is a woody vine that is hardy in zones 4 to 9. It drops its leaves in winter and grows back from its woody stems each spring. Its flowers form on the new stems it makes that year, so it blooms again each summer.
When should I plant a bare-root trumpet vine?
Plant it in early spring, while it is still dormant and before new shoots appear. In zones 7 to 9 you can also plant from late fall into winter, on days when the soil is not frozen. Keep the roots moist from the day it arrives until it goes in the ground.
