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Easy planting plans and garden ideas
Varioous trumpet vines once lumped together as Tecoma now have different names. Remaining in this genus are severeal showy shrubs, one of which can be grown as a vine, another as a tree. All have 2-in.-long, trumpet-shaped flowers in the orange-yellow-red range and leaves divided featherwise into many leaflets. Heat tolerant. Take drought but look best with periodic soakings. Tip-pinch young growth to induce branching, reduce tendency toward legginess. Cut faded flowers to prolong bloom and lessen production of seedpods.
Native from the southern United States to Guatemala. In mildest climates, can be trained as a tree. Where frosts are common, it is usually a large shrub. Wood may die back in hard freezes, but new growth comes on quickly. Can reach 25 ft. tall, 10 to 20 ft. wide. Large clusters of bright yellow flowers appear from late spring to early winter. Good for a boundary planting, big shrub border, screening. Needs heat, deep soil, fairly heavy feeding.
