Tecoma stans
 
Common Names Yellow Bells, Yellow Elder, Esperanza, Yellow Trumpetbush
 
Zones 9B–11
 
A fast-growing, semi-evergreen shrub or small tree native to Florida, the Caribbean, and tropical America, Tecoma stans is prized for its brilliant yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers and long bloom season. It attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, making it a favorite in pollinator gardens and sunny restoration sites. Though showy and resilient, it can spread aggressively in some regions and should be monitored in sensitive habitats.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Upright, loosely branched; can be pruned to shrub or small tree form
Height: Typically 6–15 ft (1.8–4.5 m); may reach 25 ft in frost-free zones
Leaves: Opposite; pinnately compound with 3–7 toothed leaflets; bright green
Bark: Smooth to slightly fissured; gray-brown; stems green when young
Flowers: Bright yellow; trumpet-shaped; bloom spring through fall; lightly fragrant
Fruit: Long, slender seed pods (up to 8 in); dry and split open; ornamental but litter-prone
Ecology: Nectar source for hummingbirds, sulphur butterflies, and native bees; seed pods attract small mammals; may host leafroller caterpillars2
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun; tolerates reflected heat
Watering: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
Soil: Sandy, loamy, or rocky; well-drained; neutral to alkaline pH
Temperature: Hardy to ~25°F (–4°C); dies back in hard freezes but rebounds in spring
Humidity: High tolerance; thrives in subtropical and tropical climates
Propagation: Seed or cuttings; seedlings bloom within 2 years
Tolerance: Heat, drought, poor soils; some salt wind tolerance
 
Landscape Use Ideal for tropical borders, pollinator gardens, and sunny restoration sites. Use as a specimen shrub, informal hedge, or container accent. Pairs well with Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Russelia equisetiformis, and Zamia integrifolia.