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Tecoma
Stans also known as Yellow Bells, Yellow Elder or trumpet
bush belongs to the Bignoniaceae Juss family. They
originate in tropical America (West Indies, Mexico).
Tecoma Stan comes from desert shrub lands and dry forests
in the region from Texas and Arizona southward to
Argentina. Yellow elder is a small tree, which grows to
25 ft (7.6 m).
It has dense, lushly green foliage that is evergreen in
tropical climates, but deciduous in chillier places. The
opposite leaves are composite, with three to thirteen
leaflets, 2-3 in (5-7.6 cm) long, with toothed edges, and
very apparent ribs. They are borne on very short petioles
and are slightly hairy on the undersides. The smooth
squared twigs are green, turning tan or reddish tan as
they age.
The bark on the main trunk is light brown and becomes
corky with age. The 1-2 in (2.5-5.1 cm) long, sunshine
yellow flowers are trumpet shaped. They hang in showy
clusters at the branch tips and forks, bending the twigs
into arches with their weight. There are two folds along
the bottom of the flower's throat and several delicate
rust-red lines decorating the interior.
The blooms appear in flushes throughout the growing
season. They are followed by 4-8 in (10.2-20.3 cm) long
string bean-like pods that hang in vertical clusters.
These turn brown and split open to release flat oblong 1/4
in (0.6 cm) seeds with transparent 1/4 in (0.6 cm) wings
on each end.
Hardiness zones: 7-11 (-15°C/ 5°F, 4°C/40°F) in
winter. It is reliably hardy, but only down to 28ºF (-2.2ºC),
though the roots may survive temperatures into the low
twenties. That tree can take periods of severe drought.
They need full sun. Yellow elder will grow on a wide
variety of soils, including sand and lime rock, but it
likes it well drained. Potted plants should be given
minimal water when not in active growth. The Tecoma Stan
can also be grown by sea-side.
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