My neighbor planted this to screen their swimming pool (thanks, dude, I didn’t want to see your butt!) and I’m thinking about taking some to my new blank slate yard when I move in a couple of weeks. Should I clip some vine, or grab seed pods? It’s covered in hummingbirds and bugs. Please don’t tell me it’s invasive and I should leave it alone.
by AffectionateAd905
4 Comments
[Trumpet Vine](https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=cara2)
Texas is near the edge of their native range. It is deciduous, though, unlike our similar, non-dedicuous crossvine.
Clippings: Good in summer when new growth starts to mature.
1. Cut a 6–8 inch stem tip from healthy growth.
2. Remove lower leaves, leaving 2–3 at the top.
3. Dip in rooting hormone (optional but improves success).
4. Plant in moist potting mix (sand/perlite mix works well).
5. Cover with a plastic bag or place in a propagator to keep humidity high.
6. Keep bright but out of direct hot sun — rooting can take 4–8 weeks.
Seeds – would take longer. Air layering if you have time before you move. Another option – Check to see if any shoots are coming up in your yard and dig them up.
I planted a Madame Galen trumpet vine many years ago and it’s been a real beauty with no effort on my part (except for pulling up or cutting it back when it spreads which it does, but in the right spot it is so worth it).
Not sure if you’re being serious about the invasive comment but yeah after spending years trying to snuff out a trumpet vine that was choking out a 100 year old live oak, I always advise to steer clear of them. They are listed as “very invasive” and are generally a messy looking deciduous plant that is hard to control—it will literally rip wooden fences apart and lift trellises off the ground. A native cross vine tangerine beauty is a much better, drought tolerant, easier to tame, evergreen option to add to your urban landscape.
Here is a good read on the difference between the two.
https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/crossvine-a-showstopping-native-vine/
I would say not technically “invasive” because it is from here but it is extremely aggressive. I’m actually surprised it is not popping up halfway across your yard already. Your neighbor might be seeing it do that on their side. Highest chance of transplant success would be to dig up one of those little sprouts with as much root as you can manage and then baby it in a pot for a few weeks while it gets over its shock. Though like the other commenters said crossvine is a much more well behaved option if you dont want to be pulling sprouts constantly. Alternatively you could put it in plant jail (surrounded by concrete or just growing in a pot that doesnt touch bare dirt).