Perch Supply
Michigan · Vine

Trumpet creeper for birds in Michigan

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

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

Growing conditions in Michigan

Humid continental, strongly shaped by the Great Lakes; colder and snowier in the Upper Peninsula.

A compressed nesting season; bluebirds usually manage one or two broods.

Michigan birds that use Trumpet creeper

Nesting season it supports in Michigan

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 Michigan

Cardinal flower
Lobelia cardinalis · Perennial

Late-summer nectar.

Wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Nectar and seed.

Trumpet honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens · Vine

Native red tubular flowers timed to hummingbird arrival.

Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium · Perennial

Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.

Winterberry
Ilex verticillata · Shrub

Winter fruit.

Flowering dogwood
Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Frequently asked

Is Trumpet creeper native to Michigan?

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

What birds does Trumpet creeper attract in Michigan?

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

Does Trumpet creeper help nesting birds in Michigan?

3 of those birds nest in Michigan: 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 — Michigan
  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.