Does it need full sun?

Yes, it thrives in full sun and is a fast growing pioneer species.

Can I grow it in a pot?

It is generally too large for long term container growth.

Plant guide

Trumpet tree.

Cecropia peltata

Pronounced seh-KROH-pee-uh pel-TAY-tuh

Also known as Pumpwood, Trumpet tree, pop-a-gun, snakewood, trumpet-tree

The trumpet tree is a fast growing pioneer species native to the tropical Americas. It is well known for its large, palmately lobed leaves that create a distinct umbrella shape. You will often see it colonizing disturbed areas or forest edges in its natural habitat.

Another photo of Trumpet tree — Photo by Lauren Bosch (CC0) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Tree
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 15 to 20 meters
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Year round

Care

Keep this plant in a spot with plenty of space to accommodate its rapid growth. Watch for yellowing leaves which can indicate overwatering or poor drainage. It prefers consistent warmth and high humidity to thrive.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back dead or crossing branches to maintain a tidy shape.
Repotting: Move to a larger container once the roots fill the current pot.
Soil: Well draining loamy soil
Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.0
Temperature: 15 to 35°C
Humidity: 70 to 95%

Safety

People: The sap can be a skin irritant for some people.
Children: The large, brittle branches can break easily, so children should not climb this tree.
Contact allergens: The milky sap may cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can be a minor respiratory irritant during peak flowering.
Edibility: The fruit is edible when fully ripe, but unripe fruit can be irritating to the throat.

How to identify it

Large palmately lobed leaves
Hollow stems resembling trumpets
Silvery undersides on leaves
Distinctive umbrella shaped canopy

Height: 5 to 15m
Spread: 3 to 8m
Leaves: green, silver, evergreen
Flowers: green, white, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: brown, Year round

Problems to watch for

Leaf spot · Fungal infections can occur in areas with poor air circulation.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring, summer, fall

Plant in open, sunny areas where it can establish quickly without competing for light.

Grows well with

Heliconia · They thrive in the same high humidity and tropical light conditions.

Similar species

Cecropia schreberiana · It is a closely related species with similar growth habits and ecological roles.

Science

Family: Urticaceae
Genus: Cecropia
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Tropical Americas, including the Caribbean and Central and South America.
Conservation: It is a common and widespread species that is not currently of conservation concern.

It serves as a vital pioneer species that rapidly fills gaps in the forest canopy to provide shade and habitat.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, fruit source for birds and bats
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: ornamental, pioneer reforestation, wildlife habitat

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 9/9
Moisture: 7/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?: Yes, it thrives in full sun and is a fast growing pioneer species.
Can I grow it in a pot?: It is generally too large for long term container growth.

Where the name comes from

The name Cecropia honors Cecrops, a mythical king of Athens, while peltata refers to the shield shaped leaves.

Good to know

It is often called the trumpet tree because of its hollow stems.
The tree maintains a symbiotic relationship with Azteca ants that live in its hollow branches.
It grows incredibly fast, sometimes reaching several meters in just a few years.
The leaves are large and palmately lobed, making them very distinct.

Keep your trumpet tree growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on October 25, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.