How to identify Yellow trumpetbush (Tecoma stans)

How to identify Yellow trumpetbush (Tecoma stans)

Yellow trumpetbush, also known as Yellow elder, Ginger-thomas

Yellow trumpetbush is characterized by its pinnately compound leaves, typically with 5-13 medium to olive green leaflets that are elliptic to lanceolate and serrated along the margins. This shrub or small tree features bright yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers, each with subtle pale red veins on the inside of the tubular structure. The flowers group in clusters, creating a stunning display. The foliage provides a contrast with its leaflets being slightly hairy underneath. It also produces elongated fruit capsules that shift from green to a grayish-brown as they mature.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Tree, Shrub

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Yellow trumpetbush

Bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers with pale red veins inside, forming clusters.

Opposite pinnately compound leaves with 5-13 medium to olive green serrated leaflets.

Elongated fruit capsules transitioning from green to grayish-brown, splitting to release winged seeds.

Thin green twigs maturing into reddish-brown, drooping multi-trunked branches without thorns.

Trunk with light gray to brown bark, evolving texture with deep fissures and ridges.

Detailed Traits of Yellow trumpetbush

Leaf Features

Yellow trumpetbush's leaves are opposite and pinnately compound with 5 to 13 lanceolate to elliptic leaflets. Each leaflet measures 1.5 to 5 inches (4 to 13 cm) in length and 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) in width. They are medium to olive green with serrated margins. The texture is smooth, and the veins are prominently visible, enhancing the leaf's structure and appearance.

Leaf Base

Cuneate ,

Circular

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite

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Flower Features

Yellow trumpetbush's flowers are bright yellow, showy, and trumpet-shaped, each about 3 cm (1.2 inches) long, adorned with a few pale red veins inside the tube. They are arranged in clusters or racemes and emit a mild fragrance. Blooming from spring to frost, and potentially year-round in tropical regions, these flowers form on short, upright terminal inflorescences. The fragrant, bright yellow tubular flowers are a striking and easily recognizable feature of yellow trumpetbush.

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Stem Features

Yellow trumpetbush stems start as thin, green twigs, approximately 0.1 to 0.2 inches (2.5 to 5 mm) in diameter. As the plant matures, these stems develop a reddish-brown hue. The branching pattern is drooping, and the plant is typically multi-trunked. The stems and branches are devoid of thorns, and they maintain a smooth texture throughout their growth. The transition from green to reddish-brown, and the multi-trunked, drooping branches, are distinctive characteristics of yellow trumpetbush's stems.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of yellow trumpetbush appears as an elongated and flattened capsule, ranging from 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12 in) in length and up to 2 cm (0.8 in) wide. These capsules transition in color from green to a grayish-brown upon maturation. They eventually split open to disperse numerous, papery winged seeds. Each seed is flat and oblong, around 8 mm (0.3 in) long and 4 mm (0.16 in) wide, with the wings extending the overall length to approximately 2 cm (0.8 in) and a width of 0.8 mm (0.03 in).

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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Yellow trumpetbush and Their Similar Plants

Cape honeysuckle vs. Yellow trumpetbush: What's The Difference?

Cape honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis) is a flowering plant native to South Africa. Despite the word honeysuckle occurring in its common name, the cape honeysuckle is not related to the honeysuckle. Cape honeysuckle is often planted in garden hedgerows and is considered an invasive species in some regions.

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Key Facts About Yellow trumpetbush

Attributes of Yellow trumpetbush

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Tree, Shrub

Plant Height

6 m to 9 m

Spread

3 m to 6 m

Leaf Color

Green

Flower Size

3 cm to 5 cm

Flower Color

Yellow

Fruit Color

Brown

Green

Silver

Copper

Gray

Stem Color

Green

Red

Yellow

Brown

Leaf type

Evergreen

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Scientific Classification of Yellow trumpetbush

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Mints plantains olives and allies

Family

Bignonia

Genus

Trumpetbushes

Species

Yellow trumpetbush (Tecoma stans)

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Distribution Map of Yellow trumpetbush

Yellow trumpetbush is native to the southeast US, Central America, and most of the western half of South America. It prefers dry, disturbed areas like roadsides but also lives in forests. It has been introduced sporadically in Africa and in South Asian countries, where it is ornamental.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

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A Comprehensive Guide to Yellow trumpetbush How to Grow and Care for Yellow trumpetbush