Tecoma stans is a perennial shrub belonging to Bignoniaceae (Trumpet-Creeper) family. Plant is native to Texas, Arizona, Mexico, Florida, Caribbean, Central America and South America as far as northern Argentina. Locations within which this plant is naturalised include Australia, South and Southeast Asia, South Africa, Eastern Africa and some oceanic islands with warm climates. Genus name, ‘Tecoma’, is an abbreviation for its Mexican name ‘tecomaxochitl’. The species name ‘stans’ means erect or upright. Other common names include Esperanza (Spanish for hope) and Yellow Elder.

Yellow Trumpetbush is a broadleaf, fast-growing evergreen shrub typically 1-2 m tall but can grow up to 8 meters tall and up to 5 meters wide. The shrub is multi-trunked with dangling branches. The young stems are smooth, hairless and greenish in colour and turn pale brown as they age. The bark on the main stem is light brown to pale grey colour, furrowed, and a little rough in texture. The pinnate leaves are 10-25 cm long, arranged in pairs and borne on slender petioles 1-9 cm long. The compound leaves are formed with 3-13 leaflets. The glabrous leaflets are green, 4 to 12 centimetres long and elliptic to lanceolate in shape with serrated margins.

The showy and mildly fragrant flowers of Tecoma stans are bright yellow, trumpet-shaped and emerge in clusters or racemes. The flowers bloom from spring until frost. In warmer climates, they may bloom all year long. The nectar of the flowers attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. The fruits are long, thin, green to greyish-brown capsules which are very conspicuous in the fall as they dangle from the shrub.

Yellow Trumpetbush is tolerant of drought, heat and cold but will go dormant in temperatures below freezing. It is not particular about the soil, but they do best in rich, slightly moist, well-draining soil. Although it is best blooms in full sun, can be grown in partially shaded areas. The shrub benefits from being allowed to dry out between waterings. Pruning is necessary after flowering to control the size and shape of the shrub. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooming and a bushier appearance.

Tecoma stans propagated by seeds or soft cuttings. Seedlings will bloom within two years.
Plant withstands minor frost, probably it is root hardy to – 7˚C.  Today there are many cultivars of the plant. Two superior cultivars are ‘Gold Star’ and ‘Sundance’, both smaller in size and flower profusely.

Yellow Trumpetbush may overtake flora outside of its native zone because of their fast growth and hardy nature, becoming an invasive species. These plants are considered invasive in tropical parts of Africa, Asia, parts of South America, the Pacific Islands, and Australia.  Plant has been included in the Global Invasive Species Database. It has been listed as a noxious weed in South Africa.

Use in Landscape: Tecoma stans is frequently planted as a specimen or accent plant due to its prolonged blooming and brilliant floral display. Although sometimes trained to a single trunk, it is most often used as a specimen, or mixed in with other border shrubs. Yellow Trumpetbush’s small stature allows it to be used beneath power lines as a street tree. Growing in full sun on any well drained soil, survives on rain alone making it well-suited to naturalized and low-maintenance gardens. It makes a nice container plant.

Tecoma stans provides firewood and charcoal. The wood is used in the construction of buildings. It has been used by native Americans of the Southwest and Mexico for bow making, bee fodder and medicines.