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This is an upright shrub that can grow up to 12' tall. The rich green, lush looking foliage with its clusters of 2 1/2" orange-red trumpet-shaped flowers gives a subtropical appearance. Tecoma stans comes from desert shrublands and dry forests in the region from Texas and Arizona southward to Argentina. It has become established in many parts of the Pacific and is naturalizing in South Florida. In South Florida, it invades dry disturbed sites, pine rocklands, and rockland hammocks. In the Pacific, it prefers wet or mesic sites.
Tecoma will grow on a wide variety of soils, including sand and limerock. The plants can be cut to the ground for rejuvenation in the early spring or carefully sheared during the growing season to control shape and size and promote new flushes of flowers. Needs full sun, likes well drained soil. Potted plants should be given minimal water when not in active growth.
Tecoma is typically deciduous and may freeze back or have a rather awkward shape, so it is best set among more consistent shrubs where it can contribute color to a border or screen. This beautiful shrub is perfect for attracting hummingbirds
Zones 9-11
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