porkpal said: I have never tried to domesticate a trumpet vine, but I don't see why it can't be done with due diligence.
I have three trumpet vines along an unsightly chain link fence that I prune hard yearly. They grow furiously every summer. My only difficulty is encouraging lower leaf growth on the lower bare trunk(s) where there are no laterals—where I want thicker coverage. but the upper half gets huge between May and August. I suspect early training pruning might have been the key to bushier growth, which didn't happen.
I have two varieties: the yellow is C. radicans 'Flava' and I think the orange is Campsis x tagliabuana 'Madame Galen', which sends up occasional runners. Haven't seen any from 'Flava." Word of caution, especially because you want to place them around a bench: they are insect/pollinator magnets. They are constantly abuzz with numerous species of bees and wasps, plus a healthy populations of spiders and birds.
