Perch Supply
Iowa · Vine

Trumpet creeper for birds in Iowa

Large orange trumpets through midsummer. Native to Iowa, where it feeds or shelters 3 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Campsis radicans
Native status
Native in Iowa
Hardiness zones
USDA 4b–6a
What birds get from it
nectar
Iowa birds supported
3
Nesting birds among them
3

Growing conditions in Iowa

Humid continental prairie state, with loess hills in the west and the Driftless Area in the northeast.

Hot, humid summers with thunderstorms.

Iowa birds that use Trumpet creeper

Nesting season it supports in Iowa

Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Trumpet creeper:

  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird — May–August
  • Baltimore Oriole — May–July
  • Orchard Oriole — May–June

Native plants to pair with Trumpet creeper in Iowa

Trumpet honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens · Vine

Native red tubular flowers timed to hummingbird arrival.

Cardinal flower
Lobelia cardinalis · Perennial

Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.

Wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

Winterberry
Ilex verticillata · Shrub

Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.

Frequently asked

Is Trumpet creeper native to Iowa?

Yes. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) is recorded as native in Iowa. Iowa spans USDA 4b–6a.

What birds does Trumpet creeper attract in Iowa?

In Iowa, Trumpet creeper supports 3 backyard birds, including Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole.

Does Trumpet creeper help nesting birds in Iowa?

3 of those birds nest in Iowa: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (May–August), Baltimore Oriole (May–July), Orchard Oriole (May–June).

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Iowa
  4. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
  5. Audubon Native Plants Database

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.