Waterwise trumpet vines give flowers and shade through the hottest days of Utah summer
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A trumpet vine trained into a canopy on 800 South. Photo: Erin Alberty/Axios
If you see a cascade of scarlet flowers flourishing in the brown backdrop of Utah's withering August heat, you're probably looking at a trumpet vine.
Why it matters: The plant is a vigorous, waterwise grower that puts on a lush, dramatic show when little else is in bloom.
Zoom in: We wanted to show you some of the great uses Salt Lakers have found for this vine, whether training it into a small shade tree or weaving it into unsightly chain link fences.
Friction point: If it looks like a tree and quacks like a tree, you should treat it like a tree.
- The plant pictured above inspired a neighbor to plant the vine inches from a sidewalk, the homeowner told me; the roots promptly shifted the concrete.
The fine print: It climbs via aerial roots that can damage your siding and other plants it may cling to.
- Plant it where it won't annoy anyone, give it a sturdy structure to climb on, and trim it regularly to keep it in check.
The bottom line: If you have the space to give it some freedom and time to give it some love, it'll love you back.
