Common Name:

Yellow Bells or Esperanza

Scientific Name:

Tecoma stans var. angustata

Family Name:

Bignoniaceae

Description:

Yellow Bells is a native Texas deciduous suckering shrub, subshrub, herbaceous perennial, or annual depending on the portion of the state in which it is grown. Despite rather narrow leaflets, the overall form of the shrub is somewhat coarse and ratty. The yellow flowers that occur sporadically from late spring to frost are its best attribute. Periodic pruning to maintain canopy structure is adviseable.

Plant Habit or Use:

Warm season annual, shrub, small shrub, medium shrub, tropical

Exposure:

sun, partial sun

Flower Color:

Bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers, spring to frost

Blooming Period:

Spring, summer, fall

Fruit Characteristics:

Woody two-valved greenbean-shaped capsule

Height:

3 ft to 6 ft

Width:

3 ft to 6 ft

Firewise Index

10.00

Explanation of the Firewise Index numerical value

USDA Hardiness Zones:

8, 9, 10, 11

Regions that intersect these hardiness zones:
Region A - Panhandle and High Plains• Region B - North and Central Texas• Region C - Northeast and East Texas• Region D - West Texas• Region E - Upper Rio Grande• Region F - Hill Country and Central Coast• Region G - Southeast Texas• Region H - Rio Grande Valley

Click image for enlarged map of USDA Hardiness Zones

Additional Comments:

Very tough durable heat and drought tolerant shrub; soil adaptable as long as well drained. More cold hardy than the species type.

A Special Note about Cool Season Annuals

Cool season annuals typically are planted in the fall or early winter and flower in early spring under moderate temperatures. This group of plant materials includes: pansies, snapdragons, violas, dianthus, flowering cabbage/kale, etc. Because cool season annuals flower in the spring when conditions are mild, most have limited heat tolerance.

As a result cool season annuals do not receive a high Earth–Kind® index despite their outstanding landscape qualities.