Tecoma stans

RHS Plant Profile

shrubby trumpet flower

Other common names

yellow elder, yellow bells

Synonyms

Bignonia stans

Shrubs

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
2 Suppliers

A tender evergreen large shrub or small tree, up to 9m in height, with pinnate leaves made up of finely toothed, ovate leaflets. Produces clusters of trumpet-shaped, bright yellow flowers from late winter to spring

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Chalk, Clay, Sand

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Chalk Clay Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Bignoniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Tecoma can be evergreen shrubs, trees or climbers, with pinnately divided leaves and terminal racemes of funnel or trumpet-shaped flowers
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Can be grown outdoors in very mild, frost-free areas in a sunny sheltered spot. Otherwise, grow in containers and overwinter indoors, or plant in a large conservatory or greenhouse border. Water well during the growing season and sparingly in winter

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 18-21°C (64-70°F) in spring, or by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Pruning group 9, in spring; plants grown under glass may need restrictive pruning and thinning of overcrowded stems

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility