Menu list goes here

Herbal Database Search Results

Back to: Pathways Main Search Page For Metaphysical uses visit The Witchs Haven

Campsis grandiflora

Common name:	Trumpet Creeper	Family:	Bignoniaceae
Author:	(Thunb.)K.Schum.	Botanical references:	11, 200, 266
Synonyms:	Tecoma grandiflora ((Thunb.)Loisel.), Campsis chinensis (Voss.), Campsis adrepens (Lour.), Bignonia grandiflora (Thunb.), Bignonia chinensis (Lam.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - C. China, Japan.
Habitat:	Hillsides and roadsides in China[147]. Climbs into trees and grows on rocks[260].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Ling Hsiao Hua [E], Ling T'Iao [E], Nozen-Katura [E], Nozen-Kazura [E], Trumpet Creeper [H], Tzu Wei [E],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	flora = flowered; grandiflora = large flowered;
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Scrophulariales. Trumpet-creeper family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China; Japan

Physical Characteristics

A decidious climber growing to 9m at a fast rate. It is hardy to zone 7 and is frost tender. It is in leaf from June to October, in flower from August to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Walls, Ground Cover.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Blood tonic; Carminative; Diuretic; Febrifuge; Women's complaints.

The flowers and the whole plant are blood tonic, carminative, depurative diuretic and febrifuge[147, 178, 218]. They are used in the treatment of women's complaints[147, 178]. A decoction of the flowers is used to correct menstrual disorders, rheumatoid pains, traumatic injuries, difficult urination, pruritis and oozing dermaphytoses[147, 218].

Other Uses

Ground cover.

Plants can be allowed to scramble on the ground and will form an effective ground cover, rooting at intervals along the branches[208]. They should be planted about 2.5 metres apart each way[208].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in a good well-drained loam[11, 200] and a very sunny position[166] or light shade[200]. Tolerates moderately alkaline or moderately acid soils[202].
Dormant plants are hardy to about -10°c[200], though they require a sunny sheltered wall or hot summers if they are to flower well[11, 166]. The fresh young growth in spring is often damaged by late frosts[208].
Plants can take some years to settle down before they start to flower[202]. They climb by means of aerial roots but need to be supported[11, 166]. Another report says that this species does not produce aerial roots[219]. Plants can be pruned like grapes (Vitis spp.)[11] and any pruning is best done in the spring[188].
The sub-species C. grandiflora thunbergii tolerates saline winds[200].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse at 10°c. Two months stratification at 5°c assists germination[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of almost ripe wood, 7 - 10cm long, July/August in a frame. Slow to root but a fair percentage[78, 200].
Root cuttings 5cm long in December. Fair to good percentage[78].
Division of suckers in the dormant season[202].
Layering in winter[188]. Plants often self-layer[260].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Campsis chinensis (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for the family Bignoniaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[147] ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.

[166] Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990
A good book on plants that you didn't know could be grown outdoors in Britain.

[178] Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[202] Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990 ISBN 0-670-82929-3
Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.

[208] Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[219] Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

[260] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998 ISBN 0-330-37376-5
Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside.

[266] Flora of China 1994
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers Comments

Back to: Pathways Home page, Main Search Page Help Bibliography

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Campsis+grandiflora
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Campsis+grandiflora

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
(You can copy, distribute, display this works but: Attribution is required, its for Non-Commercial purposes, and it's Share Alike (GNUish/copyleft) i.e. has an identical license.)
We also ask that you let us know (michael@thewitchshaven.com) if you link to, redistribute, make a derived work or do anything groovy with this information.

Home :: View Cart :: Shipping & Returns :: Contact Us :: Log In :: Privacy Policy :: Home :: Philosophy

We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.