Tecoma stans

Flowers

A semi-evergreen shrub that can grow to a small tree, it features sharply toothed, opposite green leaves that are pinnate unpaired, with 3 to 13 serrate, 8 to 10 cm long leaflets. The leaflets, glabrous on both sides, have an elliptical lanceolate blade 2–10 cm long and 1–4 cm wide, with a long acuminate apex and a wedge-shaped base. The margin is finely toothed It reaches heights of 6 to 9 meters.

The large, showy, golden yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers are in clusters at the branch ends, are bell-shaped-funnel-shaped, five-lobed (with weakly two-lipped), often reddish-veined in the throat and 3.5 to 8.5 cm long. Flowering takes place all year round. The fruits arise from two carpels and are up to 25 cm long, narrow capsules. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.[3] The plant produces pods containing yellow seeds with papery wings. They release many seeds with membranous wings when they open. Tecoma stans reproduces sexually (by anemochory) or asexually.

Tecoma stans is native to the Americas. It extends from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Antilles to northern Venezuela, and through the Andes mountain range to northern Argentina. It was introduced in southern Africa and Hawaii

Yellow trumpetbush is a ruderal species, readily colonizing disturbed, rocky, sandy, and cleared land and occasionally becoming an invasive weed. It thrives in a wide variety of ecosystems, from high altitude temperate forests and tropical deciduous and evergreen forests, to xerophilous scrub and the intertropical littoral. It quickly colonizes disturbed, rocky, sandy, and cleared fields. The species prefers dry and sunny regions of the coast.

Esperanza is drought-tolerant and grows well in warm climates. It is an attractive plant that is cultivated as an ornamental. They are grown in many parts of the world for their beautiful flowering, to adorn streets and gardens. It can be easily propagated by stem cuttings.

It has invasive potential and occasionally becomes a weed. The species is considered invasive in Africa (especially South Africa), South America, Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. It now presents a significant danger for biodiversity. It competes with local species and can form thick, almost monospecific thickets.

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  Scrubby bush
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  Pollen grain of yellow elder
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  Fruit
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  Branching tree
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  Large shrub
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  Large tree flowering
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  As a garden plant
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  Front yard plant
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  Tree with fruit
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  As a street tree

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tecoma stans.

Wikispecies has information related to Tecoma stans.

• USDA Plants Profile
• US Forest Service article (pdf)
• FloriData
• Tecoma stans as a weed