17-10-2003, 06:22 PM
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[IBC] Trumpet Vine bonsai
(Sam Williams) held forth in
:
Hello everyone!
I found a HUGE wild trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) growing on a
Willow oak in a cow field. It is about 6 or 7 inches in diameter. I
saw one growing in a pot at the National Arboretum, so I figured it
would grow good in container culture. Is this true for native trumpet
vines? How well do they transplant....and how much of a root system do
they require to come out with it? I think what I am going to do is,
this spring, cut it back a LOT. Then allow it to grow new 'branches'
for a year. Then the following early spring, I will come back and
transplant it to a large pot. This way, I can ellimate the suckering
problem in my yard and also have a higher chance of survival. How
does this sound? Also, does anyone know of someone who grows this
species for bonsai? I appreciate it!
Sam Williams
Central Virginia, USA ( USDA zone 6b-7a)
Hi Sam,
I have quite a few trumpet vine around my house. They can grow as much
as 15 feet in a year. I have never considered them for bonsai as they
have a compund leaf which is not normally chosen for bonsai as they are
quite large. As to putting it in a pot and taking a shot at it, go for
it. With a large trunk to work with anything can happen. As for waiting
for a year after the first pruning I don't see any real reason to wait.
When you dig it up take as big a root ball as you can handle. Pamper it
and baby it when you get it home or replant it in the ground when you get
it home. Then leave it alone for a year to let it heal. Remember that the
branches break quite easily.
Let us hope you are not confusing this with poison ivy 
Good luck, Harry in Iowa
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