Campsis grandiflora Chinese bignone
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Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Campsis grandiflora, Chinese bignone
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Scientific classification
Family
Bignoniaceae
Type
Bignone - Campsis
Species
Chinese bignone - Campsis grandiflora
Other names:Bignonia grandiflora, Gelseminum grandiflorum, Tecoma grandiflora
As its name suggests, the Chinese bignone (Campsis grandiflora) comes to us from Asia. But its territory is not limited to the Middle Kingdom. The plant can now be found in gardens all over the world. To the delight of pollinators and lovers of colorful flowers.
How to recognize the Chinese bignone (Campsis grandiflora)?
The Chinese bignone (Campsis grandiflora) is a sarmentose shrub. A climber, it can reach 7 meters in height and 5 meters in spread.
The stems have light-brown bark and aerial roots. These act as spikes, enabling the creepers to cling to a support (trellis, wall, pergola, etc.).
Deciduous leaves are up to 20 cm long. Pennate, with 7 to 11 leaflets, they are a bright green.
Chinese bignone is cultivated for its summer flowering. Flowers bloom in bunches at the ends of branches between June and September. They are funnel-shaped, like those of virginia bignone (Campsis radicans). But their calyx is shorter and they are more open. The color is also different. Blooms can be orange or bright red.
After being visited by butterflies and pollinating insects, the flowers give rise to dehiscent pods. When they open, they release hundreds of seeds, which are then dispersed by the wind.
Is Chinese bignone (Campsis grandiflora) toxic?
Yes, Chinese bignone is toxic to humans and domestic animals. All parts of the plant can cause digestive problems when ingested. Its sap is also irritating to the skin. Be sure to keep your plant out of reach of your dog or cat, and wear gloves when pruning or repotting.
Our maintenance tips
Is your Campsis grandiflora wearing out and flowering less abundantly? Cut back the branches to 30 or 50 cm to give it a new lease of life.
Watering
Campsis grandiflora like to keep their feet cool, but can't stand soggy soil. Water when the substrate is dry on the surface, for about three centimetres.
To provide your plant with the nutrients it needs, give preference to rainwater. Avoid tap water, which is often too hard. Finally, to avoid damaging the roots, use water at room temperature.
If you use a saucer or planter, remove any stagnant water. It could rot the root system.
Repotting
Install your Campsis grandiflora in a perforated pot. You can add a bed of clay balls or gravel to optimize drainage.
If you have provided a trellis or stake, you can arrange it in the pot now.
Line the bottom of your container with a draining substrate. You can use universal potting soil or garden soil with a few handfuls of sand.
Plant your Campsis grandiflora. If you want your plant to climb a wall or tree, orient the root ball towards the support. Add substrate, but stop a few centimetres before the edge, to form a watering trough.
Guide the vines towards their support. Pack and water generously to remove air bubbles and encourage rooting.
Fertilization
You can stimulate the growth of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.
Fertilize your Chinese bignone every month. Use a flowering plant fertilizer to stimulate flowering.
You can stimulate the growth of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.
Put compost at the foot of your Chinese bignone to stimulate its growth.
Prune
Your Campsis grandiflora is a vigorous plant. You don't have to prune it, but it will prevent the plant from becoming invasive.
Locate the main branches that form the structure against the wall, pergola or support. You don't need to prune them, unless you want to rebalance the silhouette.
Instead, remove
- Dead or weak branches;
- Branches that intertwine in the center and block light;
- Stems growing in the wrong direction;
- Shoots at the base, if you want to control development.
Your Campsis grandiflora blooms on this year's shoots. You can therefore cut back the previous year's lateral stems (which have already flowered) above the 2nd or 3rd bud without compromising flowering.
Always use a clean, sharp tool to facilitate healing and prevent the spread of disease.
Plantation
Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.
Soak the root ball of your Campsis grandiflora to rehydrate it. Leave it in the water until there are no more air bubbles.
Dig a hole 40 cm deep. You can place clay balls or gravel at the bottom for better drainage.
Plant your Campsis grandiflora, with the surface of the root ball level with the ground. Fill in with garden soil. You can add a little sand if your soil is heavy.
Guide the stems on their supports to show them the way.
Mulch the soil to keep the stems cool. Tamp and water to encourage rooting.
Cutting
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Locate a healthy, flowerless stem. It should be semi-woody, but still flexible.
Cut a ten- to fifteen-centimetre section just below a node. Use clean, sharp secateurs to facilitate healing.
Remove the lower leaves and keep only the upper pair.
Plant your cutting in a pierced pot lined with potting soil for seedlings and plantations. Spray the substrate with non-calcareous water.
The graft takes better in a stifled environment. Cover the plant with a translucent plastic bag or cloche.
Place your young plant in a bright room where the temperature is between 20 and 25°.
The appearance of new leaves indicates that your cutting is taking root.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the bignone is a fast-growing climber. In the right conditions, it can gain 1 to 2 meters per year. Exposed to the sun and planted in well-drained soil, it quickly covers pergolas, fences and facades. Annual pruning helps control its vigorous growth.
The bignone is a hardy, fast-growing plant. It can become invasive without regular pruning, and its weight is heavy to bear on a fragile wall. What's more, the plant is toxic to pets if ingested, and its sap can cause skin irritation.
Bignone is fairly cold-resistant, depending on the variety. Most tolerate temperatures between -10°C and -15°C once well established. Young plants are more sensitive to winter frost. In cold regions, it is advisable to protect the plant with mulch in winter.
Diseases / Threats
Information
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Exposure | |
| Substrats | |
| Planting methods |
Open ground In pots In tubs |
| Categories | |
| Tags |
Beginner Invasive Flowery Toxic |
| Origin |
Southeast Asia |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 8b (-9.4°C ≤ T° < -6.7°C) |
| Leaf color |
|
| Flower colors |
|
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