Riyadh Plants
Yellow Bells,Trumpet Bush
Usually, Trumpet Bushes or Yellow Bells grow as ascending large shrubs, but may be trimmed to small trees. In their homeland, they may achieve a height of 9 metres and a width of 8 metres, but usually stay half this size in cultivation. They originate from tropical America and are grown worldwide for their bright-yellow blossom. The pinnate leaves usually show bright-green leaflets all year round. Plants survive frost down to –10°C and often recover. The scented, funnel-shaped flowers are produced in terminal racemes from autumn to early summer. Winters in Arriyadh are mostly mild enough to allow continuous flowering, and the spring aspect is delightful. Brown pods develop and split open when seeds are mature. Propagation is possible from semi-ripe cuttings in summer, but progeny may also be grown from seed. Trumpet Bushes revel in full sun and heat, but also tolerate some shade. They resist heat and do with little water once established. They grow moderately to fast, depending on the fertility of the soil, and the contents of moisture and nutrients. This plant seems to be oblivious to pests and diseases, and is adaptable to almost any condition. It can be trained or clipped to any shape desired, and looks well in containers. Potential uses are multiple as a screen, group planting or large flowering hedge along roads. In smaller gardens and in containers, the smaller form, Tecoma stans var. angustata, should be considered. This form has lanceolate leaflets with deeply serrated margins. Pruning may be done in early spring.
