1 named cultivar
The Story
Plant Bio
Distictis buccinatoria, blood-red trumpet vine, is a vigorous evergreen climber from Mexico, reaching twenty-five to forty feet on a wall or pergola and clinging by tendrils. Trumpet flowers four inches long open orange-red with a yellow throat and deepen to crimson as they age, carried heaviest in summer above glossy paired leaflets.
It is fast and heavy, so it needs a structure that can hold it and a yearly prune to stay flowering rather than sprawling. Frost is its limit: growth is damaged below the mid-twenties Fahrenheit, so outside zones 9-11 grow it against a warm sheltered wall or in a large container that can be moved under cover.
Uses & Benefits:
Essentials
At a Glance
Plant Type
Vine
Height
300 inches
Width
120 inches
Light
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Zones
9, 10
Water
Low
Humidity
Average
Lifespan
Perennial
Native To
Mexico
Toxicity
No significant toxicity reported
Planting
How to Grow
- Plant in full sun for the heaviest flowering.
- Give it a strong permanent support before planting.
- Use any soil with excellent drainage; it will not sit wet.
- Water regularly for the first two seasons, then sparingly.
- Prune hard after the main summer flush to keep it bushy.
- Shelter it from frost or grow it in a moveable container.
Pro Tip
Prune it hard once the summer flush ends; unpruned plants bare off at the base and carry their flowers out of sight at the top.
Keep It Thriving
Care Guide
Do
- Build it a support that can carry the weight 🦴
- Plant it in full sun ☀️
- Prune after the main flowering flush ✂️
- Site it against a warm wall in marginal zones 🧱
Don't
- Let it climb into gutters or roof tiles ❌
- Plant it in ground that stays waterlogged ❌
- Leave it unprotected below the mid-twenties Fahrenheit ❌
Seasonal Care Calendar
| Task | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protect | ||||||||||||
| Prune |
Watch Out For
Pests & Diseases
Common Pests
Common Diseases
In the Garden
Landscape Uses & Companions
Landscape Uses
Companion Plants
Multiply
Propagation Methods
Good to Know
Common Questions
Blood-Red Trumpet Vine questions
What zones can Blood-Red Trumpet Vine grow in?
Blood-Red Trumpet Vine is hardy in USDA Zones 9–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.
Is Blood-Red Trumpet Vine deer resistant?
Yes — Blood-Red Trumpet Vine is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.
When does Blood-Red Trumpet Vine bloom?
Blood-Red Trumpet Vine typically blooms in summer, with scattered flowers year-round in frost-free areas through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.
Does Blood-Red Trumpet Vine need full sun?
Blood-Red Trumpet Vine does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.
Is Blood-Red Trumpet Vine drought tolerant?
Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Blood-Red Trumpet Vine handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.
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Grow Blood-Red Trumpet Vine with confidence
See it in a design of your actual yard, get zone-matched care reminders, and track it season by season in your garden journal.