Family: Bignoniaceae
Common Name: Trumpet Bush

Comprising 12 species of showy, evergreen shrubs, climbers and trees, this genus is native to southern North America, South America, and South Africa. Sprays of bright yellow to orange, tubular flowers are followed by bean-like fruits. The leaves are composed of a number of leaflets, which are generally serrated.

Species

T. castaneifolia, a native of Ecuador, is a shrub or small tree with serrated leaflets and yellow flowers.

T. garrocha grows to 2 m (6 ft), with smooth, toothed leaflets and very striking, yellow or salmon-coloured flowers with a scarlet tube.

T. stans, yellow bells, is a large shrub or small tree, growing to 6 m (20 ft). It may be heavily pruned after flowering to maintain a compact shape. The bright yellow flowers, borne in sprays at the branch tips, bloom from the end of winter through to summer. The leaflets have deeply serrated margins.

Cultivation

Tecomas are frost-tender, so should be grown in a cool to intermediate conserva­tory or greenhouse in climates which are prone to frost. Plant in a large container of soil-based potting compost, or in a soil bed. Provide max­imum light. Outdoors grow in full sun with rich soil. Prune back after flowering or in early spring to control size and maintain a good shape. Propagate from semi-ripe cuttings in summer, in a warm propagating case.

Climate

Warmest parts of zone 10 to tropical.