By Chris Winslow
One plant that’s starting to blossom out nicely at the moment is yellow bells.
This beauty has many names. Officially they call it Tecoma stans. It is also known as esperanza (Spanish for ‘hope’), yellow trumpet, and ginger thomas.
Yellow bells have glossy-green, lance-like leaves, and large, showy trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom continuously throughout summer and fall. In warmer areas, it can reach a height of 8 to 10 feet. They are native to South and Central America and our southwestern states. The wood has been used by Native Americans to make bows, and in Mexico the plant was used as a medicine to relieve symptoms of diabetes and stomach cramps. This is an herbaceous perennial. It freezes back when the first winter cold snap arrives… to return triumphantly the following year as the ground warms in early spring.
If you put some in your garden, you will have butterflies, hummingbirds and bees aplenty.
Some recent introductions have increased the bloom time for this perennial, and have made the plant more compact. Some new varieties to look for:
Gold star esperanza blooms earlier than the rest of the species and grows in a more compact form. While the standards grow to 8 feet or more, goldstar is a little shorter, at 4 - 5 feet.
Orange jubilee is an orange form of yellow bells with smaller, more toothed leaves. Hummingbirds, I find, are more attracted to the orange color of this cultivar.
Sunrise is another beautiful variety. Like gold star, this yellow-flowering variety is a little shorter, and has a copper-bronze color on the throat of each flower.
Whatever Tecoma stans you choose, you will find them dependable perennials that put on a great show throughout spring, summer, and fall. They are tops on my list of drought tolerant performers at the moment, and everyone should have at least one. Happy gardening everyone!
If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to [email protected]. Or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748 www.itsaboutthyme.com
