Growing Tecoma

Latin Name Pronunciation:  te-ko' mah  

The 7 species of shrubs and small trees in the Tecoma genus, members of the Trumpet Vine family, (Bignoniaceae), range from Florida, Texas and the Southwestern states south to Argentina. These heat-loving, deer-resistant plants flower freely in full sun and are tolerant of drought once established in fertile soil in Zones 8-11.

Light: Full, hot, baking sun keeps these plants at their floriferous best.

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil is ideal, although plants will grow in somewhat sandy or rocky soil.

Watering: Water deeply to get plants established. Plants are fairly drought-tolerant once established. Water during drought and regularly if you are growing your plant in a container.

Fertilizing: Trumpet Bush doesn’t require a lot of fertilization, but if growth is slow or the plant is reluctant to bloom, apply a slow-release balanced fertilizer or one lower in nitrogen during the growing season.

Pruning: Leggy varieties can be snipped back to encourage bushiness, but improved cultivars are bred to be compact and need little or no pruning. Deadheading will prevent the formation of beanlike seed pods and encourage continued blooming. If plants die back during a cold spell, remove dead stems and look for rapid regrowth in spring.

Pests/Diseases: These plants have no serious pests. If grown indoors, monitor for spider mites and whiteflies.