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Set for summer

The resplendent Tecoma tree is a native of Mexico

BRIGHT COLOURS The scrambling species may be trained over an arch

Tecoma or Tecomaria, belonging to the family Bigoniaceae, is a genus of about 12 species of evergreen climbers, scrambling shrubs and upright trees found in rocky slopes and valleys in South Africa. They are grown as specimen plants and the scrambling species may be trained over an arch.

Large shrub

Tecoma stans (yellow bells or trumpet bush) is a large shrub or a small open tree, often with several slim trunks with pinnate leaves that are 14" long, each having 5-12 oblong-ovate to lance-shaped toothed bright green leaflets. Bright, funnel shaped yellow flowers, 2" long are produced in terminal racemes or panicles 6" long.

Tecoma campensis is an erect, scrambling evergreen shrub with slender stems and pinnate. It has lustrous, mid to dark green leaves, 6" long, each with 5-7 elliptic or diamond shaped toothed leaflets. Six-inch long racemes of slender tubular orange and scarlet flowers (3" long) are produced mainly in summer.

The Tecoma aurea bears yellow flowers, while the Tecoma lutea is slow growing with dark yellow flowers. Tecoma rosea is an upright evergreen deciduous tree with a long smooth trunk, branching near the top. The five palmate leaves have oblong to ovate, elliptic, leathery and scaly, mid to dark green leaves. The central ones being about 12" long. Funnel shaped white, pink or lilac with yellow eyes fading into white are produced in pairs in dense panicles. This tree comes from Mexico. They are grown in loam-based fertile soil in full light with shade from the hot sun. Water liberally. . The tree can be propagated by seeds, semi-ripe cuttings air layering.

CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN

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