Plant Profile: Golden Trumpet (Lamanda cathartica)

Golden trumpet is a tropical evergreen vine native to Brazil where it grows over other plants in mangrove swamps and other wet areas. They can be grown outside in warm areas of the US but have to brought inside for the winter in cool cliamtes. It is in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) together with periwinkle (Vinca), oleander (Nerium), and bluestar (Amsonia). The plants are vigorous and grow up to twenty feel long bearing shiny light green leathery leaves up to six inches long and with deep veins and wavy margins. The golden-yellow flowers sometimes have white markings in the throat, are three to four inches long, and and are trumpet shaped. They are produced in clusters during summer and fall when temperatures are above 70 C. The prickly seed pods produce winged seeds. Golden trumpet has no means of climbing and should be allowed to ramble over other plants or tied to supports. Plants can also be pruned to form shrubs. The milky stem sap may cause severe skin irritation.

Type: Tropical evergreen vine

Bloom: Golden-yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers sometimes with white throat markings, three to four inches long, in summer and fall

Size: Up to 20′ long

Light: Full sun

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained

Care: Prune to maintain size; train to climb

Hardiness: Zones 9-11

Pests and Diseases: Susceptible to mealy bug, spider mites, scale, leaf spot

Propagation: Hard of softwood cuttings in warm weather

Cherries Jubilee

Outstanding Selections:
‘Brown Bud’ (Brown buds; 8-10 feet long)
‘Peaches a Cream’ (Cream flowers with hints of peach)
‘Cherries Jubilee’ (hybrid with A. blanchetii; grows 6-8′ long, rosy purple flowers with black center, 3-4″ wide)
‘Compacta’ (Hybrid with A. schotii; 2′ long)