Tabebuia chrysantha
Common Names: golden trumpet tree, golden tabebuia
Family: Bignoniaceae (bignonia Family)
tree Has Unusual or Interesting Foliage Flowers Fragrant
Description
The spectacular golden trumpet tree can get up to 80 ft (24 m) tall
in its native habitat, but is usually smaller, maybe 30-40 ft (9-10
m) tall, in cultivation. It has an open, spreading crown that makes
for a lovely shade tree. The bright yellow trumpet shaped flowers
are about 2 in (5 cm) long and arranged in compact clusters. They
resemble the flowers of the closely related yellow elder, Tecoma
stans. The flowers are produced in late winter and early spring,
just as the old leaves drop and before the new leaves begin
emerging. Thus the leafless tree is completely yellow and quite a
showstopper. The sweetly fragrant flowers last for a month or more,
and when they fall they decorate the ground beneath with a yellow
carpet. The leaves are palmately compound with five leaflets. They
are up to 10 in (25 cm) across, and arranged opposite each other on
the stems. The leaves are quite attractive in their own right. The
seeds are borne in linear beanlike capsules around 10 in (25 cm) in
length. The dangling pods look a lot like those of the closely
related North American catalpa tree (Catalpa bignonioides).
Location
Tabebuia chrysantha is native to Central America and northern South
America. This and other species of Tabebuia are grown extensively as
ornamental lawn and street trees in subtropical and tropical
climates throughout the New World. In recent years, golden trumpet
tree has increasingly become a beautiful addition to the already
beautiful flora in the Tampa and Orlando areas of Central Florida.
Culture
Golden Tabebuia grows well in sandy soils and is quite tolerant of
salt spray.
Light: Golden trumpet tree will reward best in full sun.
Moisture: Once established, golden trumpet tree is drought tolerant,
but be sure to water regularly for the first several weeks after
planting.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 9B-11. Golden trumpet tree is marginal in zone
9B, usually sprouting back when killed to the ground by a light
freeze.
Propagation: The seeds will germinate readily if planted as soon as
the pods crack open. Semi-ripe stem cuttings can be rooted; best
results are obtained with bottom heat.
Usage
With its open, rounded shape, moderate size and spectacular floral
display, the golden trumpet tree makes an outstanding specimen tree
in the home landscape. Leafless when in its glorious bloom, golden
trumpet tree is quite a sight, and always attracts attention. They
are relatively tolerant of salt spray and are often used as street
trees in coastal environments. Golden trumpet tree is commonly
planted as a shade tree in tropical lawns.
Features
There are more than a hundred species of Tabebuia, and many have
been introduced into the South Florida horticultural trade. Exact
identification to species is often difficult, there are many
synonyms, and a lot of confusion exists in the literature and at the
nurseries. Among those grown in South Florida are Tabebuia cristate,
T. chrysotricha, T. caraiba (silver trumpet tree), T.
donnell-smithii (aka Cybistax donnel-smithii, primavera), T.
argentea (another silver trumpet tree), T. rosea (rosy trumpet
tree), T. umbellata (yellow trumpet tree), T. serratifolia (yellow
poui or Guayacan polvillo), and T. heterophylla (pink trumpet tree
or pink poui), to name just a few. |
