The MGS Forum
Plants for mediterranean gardens => Climbers => Topic started by: John on July 13, 2011, 11:26:49 PM
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Most people will know this woody climber from the south eastern USA. Well known in the Med. it is not an unusual plant in the UK where it is quite hardy though benefits from the protection and warmth of a wall which also helps to ripen the wood.
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In mediterranean conditions Campsis radicans can be a bit too successful for smaller gardens. It's a very strong grower, and its roots can produce an extensive tangle of further suckering shoots. Giving a very similar effect, the other species Campsis grandiflora is a bit better behaved; another choice for smaller gardens is C. x tagliabuana, much less aggressive, with pink flowers.
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I would only grow the showy C. grandiflora in the med; you can leave C. radicans for the Northern climes.
Both flower on new wood ie wood of the current year. I would cut back last year`s wood to say 1 or 2 buds or back to the old wood and shape the climber at the same time. They both respond well to strong pruning and both make excellent shade species in the summer.
The yellow type C radicans "Flava" is also worth growing.
David
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Good point, David (I rather prefer C. radicans 'Flava' myself, as its flowers make a better contrast with the deep green leaves).
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I bought what I thought was a C. radicans several years ago, hoping that it would grow quickly and covering a fence. I later found label saying 'Μπιγνόνια' which I then learnt was not a Bignonia, but a C. grandiflora. It has barely survived, is till less than one m tall, has never produced any flowers. At least this year it at least looks healthy, but I wonder what I should do to get the strong growth I was hoping for?
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Move to London!
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No better solution than that?
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Well OK. It may just be (as in London) that such a climber will grow well but needs to get it's roots down before it will take off. This is certainly true of Wisteria here especially against a house wall where moisture may be a problem. I have seen Wisteria struggle for years and then suddenly go mad.
In the Med it may be that it is too dry especially in a particular spot where maybe the bedrock will not allow the roots to search out any moisture for themselves.
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I'll just wait for it to find its way through the rocky ground then, it took quite a few years before my oleanders were established as well.
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I think patience is indeed the answer Jorun. I planted two Campsis radicans ,one either end of a pergola that runs along the west side of the house, about 10 years ago. After careful watering the first year they were on their own and made very slow progress but now have reached the top of the pergola and are making their way across to give welcome shade and a profusion of flowers. Hang on in there!
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My contribution to 'Plant of the day'
Campsis radicans, Trumpet Vine, does very well here in Corinth.
Most plants are huge and cover the boundary wall or fence of some of the yards here.
I don't believe they get any watering at all.
They appear to be non invasive as they certainly have the opportunity in some places but do not spread.
Corinth is built on an alluvial plain so their roots have no problem seeking out the underground water.
Ants seem to like the plant, although I didn't see the usual army of ants on the plant I snapped in August
Empty building plots in the countryside often have a couple of Trumpet Vines clinging onto the wire fences in preparation for the time, now disappeared for ever, when little dream houses can be built.
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Any clues about how to tell C. radicans from grandiflora? I'm confused about which is which. I have one growing in my plot and I don't know which one it is.
Btw, another relative very common in Greece is the orange variety of Tecoma capensis. This one is useful as it provides winter colour when not a lot of plants are blooming plus it provides spring and fall colour somewhat unpredictably. It can be aggresive and expansionist though, given half a chance. Hardy and fully evergreen in southern Greece.
Nik
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Hi Nik and welcome to the forum. I think the simplest explanation I've seen of the difference between the two is that C grandiflora flowers have a shorter tube than C radicans and the flare of the corolla is wider.
Hope this might be of some help.
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Warning! This plant can be invasive....it's roots have travelled underneath a paved 2metre wide path between a sloping planting area and our house and,until I dealt with it, was happily climbing up the wall of the house....no signs of it inside yet but I make regular checks especially since a Passiflora, planted in a similar area, suddenly appeared inside our hallway......
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Take a view to the new hybrids "summer jazz" smaller plants with the same parentage as Mdame. Galen, the yellow form is specially nice.
http://bit.ly/1VYu6hq
http://bit.ly/1VYudK1