NICE! Plant of the Month
(Tecoma stans)
Description:
Yellow bells, a multibranched shrub, can grow to several feet high in this area. With its abundance of dark-green leaves, it’s attractive even between bloomings. But the main attraction of this perennial names it. Intermittently, from April to the first hard freeze, yellow bells produce large clusters of three- to five-inch trumpet-shaped flowers. These are usually a bright-yellow which, together with the lush green of the foliage, offer a fresh beauty and the hope (esperanza) that we’ll survive another dry, hot summer. The bush will die back in winter, but send up new shoots in spring. As the weather heats up, yellow bells are off and blooming, a sight to cheer you when most other flowers are drooping.
Planting Sites:
Well-drained sand, loam, or limestone in flower beds, rock gardens, and around decks or porches with lots of full sun will work best. Yellow bells make a good show in large landscapes massed in front of other shrubs. Pot culture (in at least a 12- inch pot) will work, too.
Planting Instructions:
Space plants 3-4 feet apart. Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is root-bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places. Lift the plant by the root ball and place it into the hole. Backfill, using soil that was dug from the hole. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball, but a thin layer of compost may be spread over the soil surface. Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down.
Watering Instructions:
After planting yellow bells, water the site well in order to settle soil around roots. An organic-based root stimulator may be used according to instructions on the product label. Water deeply a few days after planting. Once the plant is settled in, do not water it until the ground dries out. To encourage blooming, water the plant deeply, but only after the soil has dried out.
NICE! Tip:
Yellow bells is highly drought-tolerant, heat-loving, and eye-pleasing, a native plant to appreciate in the dog days of summer!
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.