Flowers that look like trumpets are a delight to any garden. They have a unique shape and bring a burst of color, attract hummingbirds and bees, and add immense value to any landscape.
If you are looking for the perfect trumpet-shaped flowers to add to your garden or plant in your backyard, here are a few of the best. Read them all in this article, and give your garden new and fresh choices.
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List of Flowers That Look Like Trumpets
1. Trumpet Vine
Trumpet vine is also called the Campsis radicans in botany. This plant is a fast-growing, long-lasting perennial vine native to North America. These trumpet shaped flowers are hardy in plant hardiness zones four to nine and are best planted in spring or fall. The trumpet vines include; Apricot, Atropurpurea, Crimson Trumpet, Judy, Indian Summer, and Flava.
– Characteristics
The trumpet vine has clusters of beautiful tube-shaped flowers with colors ranging from yellow, red, or orange. They also grow beautiful bean-like seed pods. Their vines can grow up to 40 feet when they mature. These vines are considered invasive because they grow quickly and can easily take over your garden if they are not pruned.
It has glossy green ellipse-shaped leaves with up to 10 leaflets, and its flowers attract pollinators such as hummingbirds. However, it can be slightly toxic to animals and man.
– Growth Requirements
Trumpet vines should be grown in moist, sandy, loamy, well-drained, slightly alkaline soils. Light conditions should be six hours of full sun in direct or partial shade. Furthermore, the vines are drought-tolerant but will appreciate weekly watering and moisture when they begin to wither.
Fertilizers are not required because these vines grow and spread aggressively. For this reason, pruning should be done annually or seasonally in early spring.
2. Angel’s Trumpet
Angel’s trumpet, or the Brugmansia, is a tropical plant that gives an exotic vibe to any landscape. Angel’s trumpet comes in various types: Brugmansia arborea, Brugmansia suaveolens, Brugmansia sanguinea, Brugmansia Versicolor, Brugmansia vulcanicola, Brugmansia longifolia, and Brugmansia aurea. It also has cultivars such as Grand Marnier and Inca Sun.
– Characteristics
this plant produces 10-inches pendant, trumpet-shaped flowers with colors from pink, blue, white, yellow, and orange. The angel’s trumpet usually grows up to 5 feet tall and has attractive oval-shaped foliage with blue, green, or gold colors. Its flowers are also fragrant and help attract birds to your backyard and keep deer away.
Native to South America, these annual, evergreen shrubs are best-planted in the middle of spring. They are fast-growing and low-maintenance but are toxic to cats, dogs, and humans due to hyoscyamine, a poisonous alkaloid.
However, as its key characteristic, some people use the angel trumpet plant to make medicine to induce euphoric feelings and treat asthma. However, no scientific proof has been used to back up this practice.
– Growth Requirements
Angel’s trumpets can grow in any soil type, from sandy or loamy soil. But the soil must be nutrient-rich, well-drained, and moist. These flowers should be placed in the hardy in zones seven to 11, hence you must make sure that you plant them around those zones.
This plant will also enjoy about six to eight hours of full sun, sometimes in partial shade. It also needs to be watered regularly, but you must not leave it soaked to prevent root rot. It would help if you also fertilized it weekly with a water-soluble fertilizer.
3. Moonflower
The moonflower or Datura plant is a romantic trumpet plant typically grown in hardiness zones 10 all through 12. The main types of moonflowers are Datura innoxia, Hylocereus, Mentzelia, Oenothera, and Ipomoea alba. You should note that the Datura innoxia is the species of moonflower that is toxic.
– Characteristics
The annual tropical plant is a fast-growing vine that can grow up to 20 feet long under suitable growing conditions. It, however, has hallucinogenic seeds, which are toxic to animals and humans and should be planted away from children and pets, which means that this characteristic is one that you should be very cautious of.
Not only that but the flowers of the moonflower plant are white and large, and some species have a lemon fragrance that is released at night. These trumpet-shaped flowers represent their name by opening up their tube-shaped buds in the evenings or on cloudy days and curling back during the day. Its dark green leaves are also large and heart-shaped.
– Growth Requirements
Moonflowers thrive in full, unfiltered sunlight; about six to eight hours will do perfectly well for them, don’t worry they will not be subjected to any crisp or burn.
Furthermore, they tolerate different soil types but will do best in moist, nutrient-rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soil. Plant watering can be done regularly but not too much so as not to cause root rot. You can apply phosphorus fertilizer to your moonflowers once every month.
4. Easter Lily
Also known as Lilium longiflorum, the Easter lily is another trumpet-shaped flower popular for Easter decorations. The most common type of the Easter lily is the Nellie White, but other types include; Deliana, Trimphator, White Heaven, and Elegant Lady.
– Characteristics
This plant is a perennial flower with lush foliage and is best planted in fall to bloom quickly in summer. It’s best grown in hardiness zones four to eight and is toxic to cats only.
It has thin, dark green leaves that are long and grow from thick, sturdy stems that can reach heights of about three feet. The flowers of the Easter lily are large and come in pink, yellow, cream, or white colors.
Also, note that as they are planted they are also fragrant and give off a pleasant scent in the garden.
– Growth Requirements
Easter lilies grow well in moist, nutrient-rich, and acidic to neutral soil. In addition, they enjoy full sunlight but in partial shade, as direct sunlight will burn their foliage. You can use a balanced fertilizer for these plants in spring.
It would be best if you watered your Easter lilies once the topsoil is dry, as they don’t do well in completely dried-out soil.
5. Trumpet Honeysuckle
The trumpet honeysuckle scientifically, they are known as the Lonicera sempervirens is a deciduous vine primarily found in the eastern states and hardy in zones four to nine.
The trumpet honeysuckle has various cultivars such as Sulphurea with bright yellow flowers, Superba with brilliant scarlet flowers, Blanche Sandman with orange-red flowers, Magnifica with bright-red, late-flowering blooms, and Major Wheeler with bright red and gold flowers.
– Characteristics
This plant with trumpet-looking flowers is a semi-evergreen, woody climbing vine and is commonly visited by butterflies, moths, and birds.
The leaves of the trumpet honeysuckle are oblong with a smooth, glossy but thick leather-like texture. They can range from yellowish green to dark green.
They produce large, narrow, tube-shaped flowers about two inches long and bloom from early spring. They are usually red on the outside and yellow inside and clustered at the stems’ end.
– Growth Requirements
Growing the trumpet honeysuckle is easy, which means that all you have to do is plant it in moist, acidic, well-drained soil. Expose it to the full sun daily, as this will help bring out its best colors, but it can also do well in partial shade. Although the plant is drought-resistant, regular watering is required when it starts to grow.
6. Cross Vine
Bignonia capreolata, also known as the cross vine, is a semi-evergreen, woody, climbing vine native to the southeastern states. Cultivars of the cross vine include Tangerine beauty, Shalimar Red, Atrosanguinea, Jekyll, Helen Fredel, Wabash Valley, and Dragon Lady.
– Characteristics
It is fast growing, so it can reach 50 feet tall and uses the adhesive pads on its tendrils to climb and attach itself to stones, walls, and trees. This tube-shaped plant is hardy in plant hardiness zones six to nine.
In spring, this plant produces fragrant, two-inch orange, yellow or red tubular flowers that appear in clusters. These blooms can last up to four weeks and attract hummingbirds.
Its leaves are opposite, glossy, six inches, and light green in color but deepen to a darker green in summer. In winter, they turn a mix of red and purple colors.
– Growth Requirements
The cross vine thrives in moist, nutrient-rich, neutral, well-drained soil but can tolerate different soil types. Its colors show better in full sun or partial shade. In addition to this, remember that it is drought-resistant but should be watered regularly during its growing season. The cross vine can be invasive and must be pruned to keep it in check.
7. Cigar Flower
Cigar flower is also known as the Cuphea ignata. This flower is a densely branched evergreen perennial sub-shrub commonly grown in warm regions and hardiness zones 10 to 12.
Some of the cultivars of the cigar flower include; David Verity with tall and robust foliage and produces dark orange flowers with flared, yellow rims, and Starfire Pink, which comes with broad, dense foliage and deep pink flowers with lavender to purple edges.
– Characteristics
The flowers are typical attractions for hummingbirds and butterflies, but the shrub only grows to about 25 to 30 inches in height. This plant is low-maintenance, easy-to-grow, disease-resistant, relatively drought-tolerant, and blooms all season.
The plant is also called the firecracker plant and got its name from its small orange, burgundy, or red tubular flowers with dark rims and white mouths that look like a lit cigarette. Its simple, opposite, dark green, and lance-shaped leaves grow to about 3 inches tall on thin reddish stems.
– Growth Requirements
The cigar flower thrives in full sun and partial shade. These plants enjoy moist conditions, so regular watering throughout their growing season allows them to produce better flowers. You can fertilize them during the growing season with balanced liquid fertilizer weekly.
On the other hand, note that in moist, nutrient-rich, well-drained soil you must plant them so that they will grow and thrive, but it can also do well in almost any type of soil pH.
8. Foxglove
Foxglove, also known as Digitalis purpurea, is a statement plant for any garden. Foxgloves have various species, including; Strawberry, Foxy, Candy Mountain, Polka dot Princess, Dalmatian Purple, Apricot Beauty, Alba, Camelot Lavendar, Pam’s Choice, Rose Shades, Goldcrest, Excelsior, Arctic Fox Rose, and even the Illumination Flame.
– Characteristics
Fast-growing and easy to care for, this plant is mainly grown as an ornamental plant in hardiness zones four to nine. These herbaceous perennials bloom heavily in spring and are deer-resistant.
Also, remember that foxglove is toxic to humans and animals as it contains chemicals such as digitalis and glycosides, which can affect the heart, and it would mean to be intoxicated just by ingesting it, as these characteristics should be something to have in mind to avoid any health issues.
The foxglove flowers are trumpet-shaped and clustered and come in colors ranging from yellow, red, pink, white, lavender, and purple. They bloom on their stems in early summer, reaching up to 6 feet in height.
They are typical attractions for bumblebees and hummingbirds. They might also have purple or white spots on the bottom end of the flowers.
– Growth Requirements
Foxgloves grow in nutrient-rich, loamy, moist, well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil. They require full sun of about six to eight hours daily or partial shade. They are prone to crown rot, so you must not leave the soil soggy, which means that you must water them weekly. You can feed them with balanced granular fertilizer once a year.
9. Trumpet Daffodil
Trumpet daffodil is also called Narcissus pseudonarcissus. This plant is a perennial that grows in any climate and hardiness zones three to seven.
Varieties of trumpet daffodils include; King Alfred, Dutch Master, Mount Hood, Goblet, Holland Sensation, Rijnveld’s Early Sensation, Standard Value, Topolino, Unsurpassable, W.P. Milner, and Yellow River.
– Characteristics
They can be grown in any garden setting, bloom in early or mid-spring, and be planted in fall. Trumpet daffodils are easy to grow and can reach heights up to 20 inches. They are also deer and rabbit-resistant and are toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.
Just as their name implies, trumpet daffodils produce bold tubular-looking flowers per stem and are usually longer than their petals. These trumpet flowers come in various shapes; flared, narrow and wide trumpets, and different colors; yellow, white, or multicolored.
– Growth Requirements
Trumpet daffodils are easily grown in moist, nutrient-rich, well-drained soil with an acidic to neutral pH. They require full sunlight of up to 8 hours daily but will do well in partial shade too. Watering should be done regularly during the growing season but be reduced in late spring. You can fertilize them with bulb food when planted in poor soils and when they start to flower.
10. Yellow Bells
Yellow bells, also called Tecoma stans, is a perennial plant native to the southwestern parts of the USA. This plant, which can survive in dry and tropical conditions, is known to attract hummingbirds and butterflies and is best planted in spring.
There are only two primary varieties of the yellow bell: Angustata and Stans. Angustata has narrower leaves with smaller flowers and more significant amounts of somewhat undesirable seed pods.
Stans is more tropical than its counterpart and has larger flowers and broader leaves. It, however, produces a smaller amount of seed pods. There are newer varieties of yellow balls: AZ Diablo, Crimson Flare Esperanza, Gold Star, Solar Flare Esperanza, and Sunrise Esperanza.
– Characteristics
Hardy in zones eight all the way through 11; this bright yellow-colored plant will brighten your garden with its sunny flowers.
Also remember that the yellow bell is a large, drought-resistant plant with bright green leaves that bear golden-yellow clusters of tubular flowers.
– Growth Requirements
Yellow bells are best grown in moist, nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. It will thrive best in full sunlight but can also tolerate partial shade. However, they don’t require much watering, which means that you can water them weekly during the growing season.
Lastly, remember that you may apply a slow-release fertilizer in spring to help foster its flowering, when the flower is already on the edge of blooming.
Conclusion
Trumpet-shaped flowers have several benefits to any garden, and there are numerous types to choose from. So, if you’re ready to try them, start with any of the ones mentioned in this article. But take note of the following;
- Ensure you’re within the correct hardiness zones of the flower you choose to plant.
- Trumpet-shaped flowers attract several kinds of birds and insects.
- Some of these flowers are toxic to animals and humans, so be careful to position them away from reach when planting them.
Most are low-maintenance and easy to care for, so you can plant them and do next to nothing to have a tropical selection of tubular flowers in your backyard. If you follow the guidelines provided in this article, you shouldn’t have any trouble growing trumpet-shaped flowers in your home.
References
- C. Colston Burrell. Angel’s Trumpet, Trumpet Flower, Horn of Plenty. HowStuffWorks.
Retrieved from https://home.howstuffworks.com/angels-trumpet-trumpet-flower-horn-of-plenty.htm - Edward F. Gilman. (8/14/2015). LONICERA SEMPERVIRENS TRUMPET HONEYSUCKLE. University of Florida.
Retrieved from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP354 - Larry Stritch. Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata L.). US Forest Service.
Retrieved from https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/Bignonia_capreolata.shtml
