Campsis

This Campsis is a dramatic climber that will put on a succession of colourful trumpet flowers. Also known as ‘trumpet vine’ and often seen in the Mediterranean, this is a hardy variety will make a great addition to a bright garden.

Choose a nice sunny spot sheltered from cold winds where the dramatic foliage and flowers have room to spread.

Whilst your campsis is in a pot you will need to water it regularly especially if in a warm spot. Try to keep the compost damp – not dry and not soggy. Over the summer months your campsis will benefit from a dose of liquid feed every couple of waterings to help keep the foliage healthy.

Cutting off dead flowers encourages more buds and over time you will need to keep twisting new tendrils around the supplied support to keep it neat. These plants are vigorous climbers and can either be planted in the ground in a sheltered spot and trained up a wall or trellis or if you prefer to keep it compact you can keep in a pot prune your plant back at the end of the summer and repot it in the spring to keep it nice and bushy.

Problem solving If the leaves start to turn a pale or mottled colour your plant needs more nutrients and will benefit from a good dose of general house plant or citrus feed every couple of waterings until it greens up again.

If during the summer months your plant stops flowering or the buds drop before they open it may not be getting enough sunlight so try moving to a sunny spot and hold back on any feeding until you see flower buds begin to develop.