Cutting Back Hummingbird Vines?

Q: Do you have to cut Hummingbird vines back to the ground each year?

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Thanks,
PJ488 from Sanford, ME

A: PJ488,

There are several vines referred to as hummingbird vines. The most popular is the perennial vine Campus radicans, also called Trumpet Creeper or Trumpet Vine. If this is the vine you're referring to, the short answer here is no. Hummingbird vines only need to be cut back if you need to keep its growth in check, you want to shape the direction of its growth, clean up debris, or re-invigorate an established vine that isn't producing flowers. Because trumpet vines flower on the current season's growth (new wood), any severe pruning should be left for the late fall or early spring and then only cut them back to 10 inches or so.

Periodic selective pruning (thinning) can be done anytime of the year and is best done on the smaller, younger stems. Keep in mind that hummingbird vines are considered invasive in many growing zones. Even the annual varieties sow seeds freely. To avoid voluntary seedlings (that are very difficult to get rid of) deadhead flowers and collect seeds to keep the vines from reseeding.

Ellen