Campsis x tagliabuana DANCING FLAMES

DANCING FLAMES is a trumpet vine variety that proves one fact - when it comes to red, there are never enough varieties. So here is another one, offering slightly different flowers. It belongs to the Italian group i.e. a hybrid between the North American and Chinese species.

DANCING FLAMES produces scarlet red, trumpet-shaped flowers, turning vivid red only a day or two after opening. The trumpets are 7-9 cm long and have 5 curved tips which are almost the same size and formed neatly around the trumpet end. They have no fragrance but bloom all summer long. The inflorescence is a raceme.

Its deciduous leaves are pinnate, deep green and very attractive. Pruning is a crucial issue with this plant if you want a nice one. It flowers on current year’s growths so it is desirable to have plenty of new branches. Therefore cut back last year’s branches to 2-3 pairs of live buds after danger of frosts (usually in April). The wood is fragile and too long branches may break in strong wind. If you wish to have a dense crown sooner and are ready to miss early flowering for one year you can clip new growths just after the second or third pair of leaves in late May/early June.

Trumpet vines like neutral to alkaline soil but will usually settle down almost anywhere since their extensive and deep root system will grow through all types of soil. Therefore it can accept drought once established so extra watering is desirable only maximum once a week in very dry summer. If you need to fertilize use only flower-encouraging fertilizers with low nitrogen level. We sell only GRAFTED plants that will flower the same year you buy them. Hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 17-08-2015