Tecoma stans
Common: Yellow trumpet flower, Yellow bells, Trumpet bush
Family: Bignoniaceae
Sunset Zone: 10, 12, 13, 21-24
Origin: Native to Florida and Mexico. Tecoma stans var. augustata is native to stoney slopes of the desert thermobelts of New Mexico, Arizona and Texas from 3,000 to 5,500 feet elevation. It has less foliage, smaller leaflets, and is rangier in form.
Light: Full sun
Soil: All soil types, best in deep soil
Water: Little water
Showy mass in large garden; boundary plantings, big shrub borders, screening. In cooler winter areas, can be planted with evergreens so unattractive winter branches will be masked. Showy large shrub or small tree.
Rapid bushy growth to 20 feet high and 15 feet wide. Leaves divided into 5-13 toothed lance-shaped leaflets, 1-1/2 to 4 inches long, bright medium green.
Bell-shaped, bright yellow flowers, 2 in. across in large clusters, followed by slender pods 3-8 inches in length.
Much of wood may die back in winter, but recovery is quite fast in warm weather.
Abundant seed pods occur on fertilized plants. Cut faded flowers to prolong bloom; prune to remove dead and bushy growth.