Yellow Bells
Tecoma stans
NEMBA category
English: Yellow Bells, Yellow Trumpetbush, Yellow Elder, Trumpet Flower, Ginger-Thomas
Afrikaans: Geelklokkies
Zulu: insimbephuzi
Historical scientific names: Bignonia stans, Stenolobium stans, Tecoma stans var. stans, Tecoma stans var. velutina
Tecoma stans, commonly known as Yellow Bells or Yellow Trumpetbush, is a vigorous, evergreen shrub or small tree renowned for its abundance of bright yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers.
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Origin:
Native to southern USA, Mexico, the Caribbean, Peru, and Ecuador.
Distinguishing features:
Abundant, showy, bright yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers.
Pinnately compound leaves with serrated (toothed) leaflets.
Long, slender, bean-like seed pods that hang from the branches.
Evergreen in warmer climates.
Overall appearance:
Tecoma stans is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub or small tree with a tendency to become dense and bushy. It has an upright, often spreading habit, forming an attractive and colourful display when in flower.
Height:
Typically grows 1.5 to 5 metres tall, but can sometimes reach up to 10 metres in ideal conditions.
Width:
Can spread out to a width of 3 to 6 metres or more.
Leaves:
The leaves are oppositely arranged and pinnately compound, meaning they are divided into several smaller leaflets. Each leaf has 3 to 13 (usually 5 to 7) leaflets that are narrowly egg-shaped to elongated (lanceolate), 2.5-10 cm long, and have sharply toothed margins. They are glossy green above and paler below.
Flowers:
The flowers are the most striking feature. They are bright yellow, trumpet-shaped, and grow in clusters at the ends of branches. Each flower is 3-5 cm long with five rounded lobes. There are often faint reddish lines in the throat of the flower. Tecoma stans flowers are hermaphroditic, containing both male and female reproductive parts in each flower, so it is not dioecious (having separate male and female plants).
Flowering season:
In South Africa, it has a long flowering season, typically from October to May, but it can produce some flowers almost year-round in warmer areas.
Fruits:
The fruits are long, slender, flattened capsules (like thin bean pods), measuring 10-30 cm long and 0.5-2 cm wide. They start green and turn brown as they mature, eventually splitting open to release the seeds.
Seeds:
The seeds are very flat, oblong (about 7-8 mm long and 4 mm wide), and have a transparent papery wing at each end, allowing for wind dispersal.
Bark:
The bark on young stems is smooth and greenish, becoming light brown to pale grey and slightly furrowed or rougher with age on the main stem.
Thorns:
This plant does not have thorns.
Wood:
The wood is generally not described as having specific commercial uses, but it is relatively soft.
Roots:
It has a somewhat shallow but widespreading root system.
Soil type:
Tecoma stans is adaptable to a wide range of soil types, including sandy, loamy, and rocky soils, as long as they are well-draining. It tolerates nutrient-poor soils.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It is very heat and drought-tolerant once established.
Edibility:
All parts of Tecoma stans are generally considered non-edible. While there are some traditional medicinal uses, it is not recommended for consumption.
Toxicity:
While not as acutely toxic as some other invasive plants like Yellow Oleander, there are reports of its leaves or other parts having potential medicinal properties, but also cautions regarding toxicity if ingested in large quantities, especially for livestock. It contains alkaloids. It's best to consider it potentially harmful if consumed.
Uses:
Primarily planted as an ornamental shrub or small tree in gardens, parks, and along roadsides due to its showy flowers. It's also used for hedging.
Ecology:
As an alien invasive, Tecoma stans forms dense stands that outcompete and displace indigenous vegetation, especially in disturbed areas, along roadsides, and in riparian zones (areas along watercourses). Its rapid growth and abundant seed production contribute to its invasive success. Its flowers attract various pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, but its overall ecological impact in invaded areas is negative due to habitat transformation.
Distribution and habitat:
In South Africa, Tecoma stans is widely distributed and invasive, occurring in seven provinces: Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, North West, and rarely in the Western Cape. It invades roadsides, waste areas, disturbed sites, rocky sites, and riparian areas, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Tecoma is derived from the Nahuatl word "tecomaxochitl," which was the indigenous Mexican name for plants with tubular flowers.
The species name stans means "erect" or "upright," referring to the plant's growth habit.
Common names like "Yellow Bells" and "Yellow Trumpetbush" refer to its distinctive flower colour and shape.
Historical aspects:
Tecoma stans was introduced to South Africa as an ornamental plant around 1858 due to its attractive flowers. For many years, it was widely planted in gardens, with little awareness of its invasive potential until relatively recently. Since 2004, it has been illegal to trade or plant this species in South Africa due to its environmental impact. Biological control programmes have been initiated to manage its spread.
Interesting facts:
This plant is a serious show-off! It covers itself in bright yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers for most of the year, making it impossible to miss.
While it looks pretty, it's a bit of a plant bully. It grows super fast and makes loads of seeds, taking over space where local plants should be.
Those long, skinny seed pods look a bit like green beans hanging from the branches. When they dry out, they split open and release flat, papery seeds that can float away on the wind – perfect for spreading!
Believe it or not, back in the day, people thought this was a fantastic garden plant because it's so tough and colourful. Now we know better, and efforts are being made to remove it!
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Common name
Scientific Name
Plant type:
No plant types available.
Plant family:
Plant family (derivation)