I bought this plant last August in flower. It's doing well and put out a lot of growth, but no flower buds yet. Should I be seeing some by now? I think I read somewhere that it's a bit shy to flower, but expected at least a few shoots to be showing signs now.

Di

I'm even newer to them than you Di, I planted one out two months ago as a 12" stick with a few small leaves on, it's only grown a few inches.
I've had to put a potted passionflower onto the pergola along side it to fill up the structure for the summer.

Bob I'm sure it will cover your pergola and look splendid in no time. Mines now about 8ft. tall and spreading quickly from probably a 2 ftish plant when I first bought it, but still waiting for the flower buds to form. Last year the flowers were lovely and lasted right through to the first frosts.

Di

Di, I can't offer advice on the lack of flowers* but one tip I would pass on is from the outset to prune and train this plant to encourage side growth and form an espalier shape. This climber has a habit of the main stem shooting up with minimal side growth. I have cut back and trained my own Campsis every spring and now very proud of the results. In contrast I gave my neighbour a young plant eight years ago, it's never been trained and is now almost up to the first floor window with very few flowers. I can post photos of both tomorrow if required.

(* other than high N feed up to end May followed by tomato fertiliser thereafter.)

Mine just about survived the winter,but only minimal growth so far.




metalhammer.

Thanks for the info Mowerman, sounds like a good idea. The main stem does seem to be running away but has side shoots to about half way so will set about getting those trained. Greenfly seem to be attracted to this plant so am having to keep a close eye on it at the minute

MH surprisingly here it was never affected by last Winter, grew in Spring as if it never happened. It's on a South facing wall though, which gave it some protection.

Di

Mine is on a south-facing fence but was trashed.





metalhammer.

Burncoose rate it as -5 but that's conservative.

Was reading on another forum when I googled this plant, about never being able to get rid of it once you have it and generally bad comments about it being extremely vigerous I would imagine you have to keep it in check, but didn't realise it could become a nuisance.

Di

I would struggle to think of a more beautiful 'pest'.





metalhammer.

My Campsis x tagliabuana and the third photo showing my neighbours untrained Campsis.
It pays to prune !

I'd also like to say thanks for the pruning tips Mowerman.

Thanks also for the pics, Hoping to get a display as good as yours, next year.

A massive difference there MM, thanks for the shots. Are these last years shots, I'm hoping so cos if they're from this year, then my flowers are missing a year

Di

That Campsis looks more like the cultivar Flamenco.
I grow Campsis grandiflora here, very beautifull one and it has allready flowerbuds. Its one of the parents of C. Madame Galen, the other one is C. radicans.
C. radicans is the one who suckers a lot.

Alexander

If I get time over the weekend,I'll go & take a pic of an unknown Campsis that grows over a hedge near my old primary school,loaded with flower currently,& it sure never gets pruned,maybe frost pruned but that's all.




metalhammer.

Saw a nice Campsis MacPenny's nursery today growing over one of there various sheds,beautiful flowers,didn't have my camera with me though.




metalhammer.