How often should I prune it?

Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape and encourage more blooms.

Does it need a lot of water?

Once established, it is fairly drought tolerant but appreciates regular water during dry spells.

Plant guide

Yellow Bells.

Tecoma stans

Pronounced teh-KOH-muh STANZ

Also known as Ginger Thomas, Ginger-Thomas, Golden Seal, Trumpetbush, Yellow Bells, Yellow Blossom, Yellow trumpetbush

yellow trumpet flower — Photo by Bethany Harrison (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Yellow bells is a stunning shrub that produces vibrant, trumpet shaped flowers throughout the warmer months. It thrives in sunny spots and attracts plenty of pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. You will love how quickly it grows to create a beautiful, flowering hedge or focal point.

Another photo of Yellow Bells — Photo by zebedeugalinha (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Shrub
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 10 to 25 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Spring to fall

Care

Plant this shrub in a spot with plenty of sun to ensure the best bloom production. Keep an eye out for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the plant needs a bit more iron or better drainage. Regular trimming helps keep the shape tidy and encourages even more flowers.

Watering: Water deeply once the top few inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season to support heavy blooming.
Pruning: Trim back after the main flowering flush to maintain a compact shape and promote new growth.
Repotting: Move to a larger container once the roots begin to circle the bottom of the current pot.
Soil: Well draining sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 8.0
Temperature: -4 to 40°C
Humidity: 30 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 10 to 20 years
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot
Stunted growth during the active season

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non-toxic, but ingestion of any plant material should be avoided.
Children: The seed pods can be a choking hazard for small children if ingested.
Contact allergens: No specific skin irritants are known.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals during peak bloom.
Edibility: This plant is not intended for human consumption and may cause digestive upset.

How to identify it

Bright yellow trumpet shaped flowers
Pinnately compound serrated green leaves
Long slender seed pods
Woody shrub or small tree habit

Height: 1.5 to 6m
Spread: 1.2 to 3m
Leaves: green, evergreen
Flowers: yellow, 3 to 5cm
Fruit: brown, Late summer to winter

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
WhiteflyCommon
Root RotUncommon
Sooty MoldUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring, early summer
Overwintering: In cooler climates, bring containers indoors or provide heavy mulch to protect roots from frost.
In containers: It grows well in large containers, at least 40 liters, provided they have excellent drainage.

Cuttings

Take a 15 cm cutting from non flowering growth.
Remove lower leaves and dip the end in rooting hormone.
Place in moist potting mix until roots establish.

Group with other heat loving plants that enjoy full sun and well draining soil.

Grows well with

Lantana — They share similar water and light requirements.
Salvia — These plants provide a nice contrast in flower shape and color.

Similar species

Cape Honeysuckle — It is a close relative with similar growth habits but different flower colors.

Science

Family: Bignoniaceae
Genus: Tecoma
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Americas from the southern United States to Argentina.
Conservation: It is considered invasive in some tropical regions outside its native range.

It thrives in disturbed areas and open woodlands where it can access full sunlight.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Uses: ornamental shrub, pollinator garden, privacy screen

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How often should I prune it?: Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape and encourage more blooms.
Does it need a lot of water?: Once established, it is fairly drought tolerant but appreciates regular water during dry spells.

Where the name comes from

Tecoma comes from the Nahuatl word tecomaxochitl, meaning vessel flower, while stans refers to its upright growth habit.

Good to know

It is the official floral emblem of the United States Virgin Islands.
The plant is extremely heat tolerant and thrives in full sun.
It is often called yellow bells due to its trumpet shaped flowers.
It can grow quite rapidly in ideal conditions.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

Keep your yellow bells growing

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