Is the trumpet vine poisonous? How dangerous is the trumpet flower?

The climbing trumpet, also called trumpet flower or jasmine trumpet, quickly catches the eye due to its strong flower colour. However, not every hobby gardener is enthusiastic about the plant, because many assume that it is highly toxic. This is usually due to the high risk of confusion with another highly toxic plant. In reality, however, there is no reason for concern, as can be read below.

Warning – risk of confusion

The climbing trumpet owes its reputation of being a highly poisonous plant to the angel’s trumpet. Visually there is no risk of confusion. It is the name that makes flower lovers, garden owners and hobby gardeners assume that it is the same plant. The fact is that these are two completely different types of plants that are not even related to each other. The angel’s trumpet is a nightshade family, while the trumpet vine belongs to the trumpet tree family. Both plants owe their additional name “trumpet” only to the front flower shape. As far as toxicity is concerned, they also differ from each other, because the angel’s trumpet is indeed highly poisonous – the trumpet flower, however, is not!

Recognize

Due to the typically trumpet-shaped flowers, some people think that a campsis is an angel’s trumpet. Perhaps there is a trumpet flower in the garden and is not recognized as such. Because it also involves a certain degree of toxicity, it is essential to clearly identify it in order to take certain measures to protect against symptoms of poisoning, if necessary.
The typical identification and distinguishing features of the angel’s trumpet include:

  • Flower color: red, yellow, pink or orange – angel’s trumpet also two-tone, white and blue-violet
  • Flower length: about eight to twelve centimeters – angel’s trumpet about 20 to 30 centimeters
  • Rounded, smooth flower edges – angel’s trumpet pointed, wavy petals
  • Several flowers are usually close together – angel’s trumpet: flowers are often solitary
  • Flowering period: July to September – Angel’s Trumpet: August to October
  • Growth height: up to ten meters – angel’s trumpet: maximum five meters
  • Lower water requirement than an angel’s trumpet
  • Suitable as a tendril – angel’s trumpet: grows shrubby

Poisonous parts of plants

In every trumpet tree plant, almost all parts of the plant contain toxic substances. The only exception is the seed. Blossoms, leaves, shoots and roots accordingly have a certain poison content. The height is approximately the same for all parts of the plant. While the roots and seeds of the angel’s trumpet are highly toxic, with the climbing trumpet it makes no difference in terms of possible poisoning what has been eaten or which part of the plant has been touched.

degree of toxicity

The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety has classified the climbing trumpet as slightly poisonous, meaning that it does not have a place on the list of poisonous plants. Plants are listed there that can lead to moderate to severe poisoning after just a small amount of consumption or brief skin contact. As a result, it can be assumed that Campsis can cause at most mild symptoms of poisoning. Life-threatening situations, as can occur with the angel’s trumpet, are not to be expected from the trumpet flower.

Contains toxins

Catalpin/Catalposid
Trumpet tree plants such as the jasmine trumpet contain the so-called catalpin or catalposid. These are iridoids, which are formed naturally as secondary plant substances to protect the plants from predators. When the toxin is consumed, a bitter taste is usually immediately noticeable. This keeps numerous insects and vertebrates from eating. They also have an antimicrobial effect and protect against microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi.

Quinoid compounds
Another element found in climbing trumpets are quinoid compounds. Although they are at most slightly toxic, they are usually responsible for allergic skin reactions when they come into contact with the skin.

Tip: The iridoids are not only poisonous and protect against predators, but also against mosquitoes in the area. If you want to keep the pests at bay, you should put a trumpet flower nearby.

toxic effect

In addition to allergic skin reactions caused by quinoid compounds, iridoids primarily act in the digestive system. There they decompose, among other things, digestive enzymes and attack proteins. They can affect nervous metabolism and cause a kind of indifference when consumed in large quantities.

Symptoms upon skin contact

As a rule, adults do not have to reckon with any reactions when they just touch parts of a plant. Skin reactions are only possible when plant sap comes into contact with the skin. Babies and small children can have allergic reactions just by touching flowers or leaves. Typical allergic skin reactions can be:

  • skin redness
  • Mild itching and/or burning skin sensation
  • Possible slight numbness on the affected skin area
  • Formation of small pimples/pustules that indicate a skin rash
Tip: Adults should always wear gloves when caring for plants to reduce the small risk of skin reactions to zero.

Symptoms in babies and (small) children

Although the toxicity of a trumpet trumpet is low, babies and small children in particular belong to a special risk group. Their immune system is not yet so strong that they can easily cope with the consumption of parts of plants without any problems. Although there is never a danger to life, babies and small children should be kept away from trumpet flowers and poisonous plants.
If consumption has taken place, the following symptoms may occur:

  • gagging fits and vomiting due to unpleasant taste (bitter substances)
  • stomach pain
  • Tenderness in the upper abdomen
  • diarrhea

symptoms in animals

Just like for humans, the trumpet flower is also slightly poisonous for animals of various species and can cause symptoms of poisoning. While most animals will refrain from nibbling after the first bite and the bitter taste, they should not be allowed free and/or unsupervised access to trumpet tree plants.

Dogs and cats Cats
in particular like to gnaw on the juicy petals, while dogs prefer to nibble on the shoots. In most cases, a small dose only triggers symptoms of poisoning in sick, old or young dogs and cats. As in humans, these manifest themselves in the form of nausea, abdominal pain and, in particular, stomach pain. As a result, you may lose your appetite until you feel better.

Horses

Because horses have a special sense of smell, like mosquitoes they perceive the unpleasant smell that usually prevents them from eating a trumpet vine. As a result, horses are at little risk.

rodents

Rodents are at little risk of ingesting so much toxin by nibbling on the trumpet flower, which could cause them to develop symptoms of poisoning. They usually only nibble on a small corner of the leaf and then let go of the plant. The risk of possible health consequences is therefore extremely low.

First aid

If you, your child or one of your (pet) animals have eaten parts of the trumpet flower plant, this is no reason to panic. However, the main focus should be on the part of the plant that, depending on its size, can in the worst case lead to suffocation, especially in small children and pets.
As first-aid measures, you should stick to the following list:

  • keep Calm
  • Check the mouth and throat for any plant parts and remove if necessary
  • A hot-water bottle and chamomile tea (soothes the gastric mucosa) help with abdominal pain
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Administer charcoal tablets – these bind the toxins and reduce the risk of symptoms
  • In the case of skin reactions, a cooling aloe vera gel helps to alleviate the symptoms and allow them to subside more quickly
  • If animals have eaten larger doses or there is suspicion, contact a veterinarian

Conclusion
The climbing trumpet should not be confused with the angel’s trumpet, because in contrast to this, the trumpet flower is only slightly poisonous. As a healthy adult, small consumption and light skin contact usually do not result in any symptoms of poisoning, if at all. However, babies and toddlers as well as dogs and cats should be kept away from the plant.

Kira Bellingham

I'm a homes writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience in publishing. I have worked across many titles, including Ideal Home and, of course, Homes & Gardens. My day job is as Chief Group Sub Editor across the homes and interiors titles in the group. This has given me broad experience in interiors advice on just about every subject. I'm obsessed with interiors and delighted to be part of the Homes & Gardens team.

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