Though we haven’t had many hummingbirds this year, Pittsburgh’s trumpet creeper is waiting to attract them.
Trumpet vine or trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) is a woody vine native to eastern North America. It’s so well adapted to the forest edge that it aggressively climbs up to 35 feet to reach the sun.
Its beauty and scent are attractive to gardeners but it requires ruthless pruning. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center says, “To keep it in check, plant it near concrete or an area that you can mow; mowing down the suckers will discourage them.”
The flower is specially shaped for pollination by ruby-throated hummingbirds, the only hummingbird in this plant’s native range. The tubes are large and the anthers held high. The insect above is too small to pollinate it.
Learn more in this video by the Capital Naturalist.
As a trumpet for hummingbirds, it’s probably so fragrant because ruby-throats like its scent. Remember: we learned this month that birds can smell.
(photo by Kate St. John; video by The Capital Naturalist on YouTube)
A decorative, fun, and edible alternative to trumpet vine is annual Scarlett runner beans which I plant from seed every May 1st. They always come up and are a strong vine which can grow up to about 10 feet on my arbor. No self seeding and suckering. They produce orange flowers somewhat reminiscent of sweet peas. Hummingbirds love them. The seed pods and beans are edible. When they are about 4 inches long they are tender. They can grow to be 12 inches long and over an inch wide. The beans at that size are hot pink color but turn gray when cooked and not too flavorful. Pods can be used to thicken soup. Seeds can be saved. Order from Vermont Seed Company early before they run out.
There’s a really nice trumpet creeper on S. Negley right near the walkway down to the busway. Watched it for a while last week on my way to HCC, but didn’t see any hummies.
Here’s a photo of the Trumpet Creeper on S. Negley.
You may have to copy & paste this URL into a browser to make it work (hotlink may not).
http://roboftheriver.tripod.com/TrumpetCreeper-Negley-081617.jpg
In England Scarlet Runners are called “runner beans”and they are a standard item in the vegetable garden. Even when small they tend to have tough “strings”. To prepare them, trim the “top”and “tail”, cut out the string, and cut them into pieces. The English think all this work is worth it. Don’t skip the work or the beans will be tough and unpleasant to eat.