Tecoma, Godi-chodi (Yellow) - Plant

Tecoma is a genus of 14 species of shrubs or small trees in the trumpet vine family, Bignoniaceae. Twelve species are from the Americas, while the other two species are African.

This perennial shrub gets is popular names from the vivid yellow, trumpet-shaped blossoms that bloom in the spring, summer and fall. In areas with hard frost, it usually grows as a shrub, but in mild climates can grow as a tree that reaches up to 25 feet tall.

Common: yellow bells, esperanza, yellow elder

Landscape Use: Floral accent, background screen, specimen around large patios and ramadas exemplifying regional or Spanish architecture; best used in oasis and transition landscape designs settings.

Form & Character: Evergreen to partial evergreen large shrub, upright and open, festive, informal, subtropical to tropical.

Growth Habit: Vigorous and upright to 15 to 20 feet but can be easily maintained at 5 to 10 feet. Hardened stems of all Tecoma species are very brittle. Semi dwarf cultivars are generally less vigorous and are more serviceable in the landscape as accent shrubs..

Foliage/texture: Opposite, pinnately compound leaves on brownish gray stems, leaflets coarsely serrate, stem lenticels and auxiliary dormant buds are obvious; medium coarse texture.

Flowers & fruits: Beautiful yellow trumpet flowers in terminal clusters; fruits are long, narrow, unattractive brown pods.

Seasonal color: Yellow to apricot colored flowers during all growing season, heaviest in spring and fall.

Temperature: Heat loving, but freeze sensitive. In climates colder than Phoenix, yellow bells will freeze to the ground every winter. In Phoenix, yellow bells will have freeze damage to leaves and small terminal stems most winters, but recovers very quickly in the spring.

Light: Full sun is required, will grows in an loose, open and rangy manner if shaded even lightly.

Soil: Yellow bells is tolerant of all Arizona soils except those with the highest degree of alkalinity.

Watering: Yellow bells responds well to regular water and fertilizer applications during summer by producing more vigorous growth and heightened flowering. It will tolerate only moderate amounts of drought.

Pruning: Prune yellow bells hard in the winter to control height and stiffen upright character.

Propagation: Softwood cutting, seed.

Care
They love full sun and only a moderate amount of water. Give them a good soaking about once a week but will survive even if you do not water them for weeks or even months. They are difficult to kill.

Propagating With Cuttings

• Remove stem cuttings about 2 to 4 inches long from the semi-woody branch tips with a sharp knife during the spring or summer months.
• Place the cuttings in a mixture of moist peat moss and perlite in a small pot.
• Cover the pot and cutting with a plastic bag secured to the pot with a rubber band.
• Place the potted cutting in indirect sunlight. The cutting can also be placed under a fluorescent light.
• Wet the medium as needed to keep it moist but not soaking wet.
• Re-pot into a larger pot with a regular potting mix after a few inches of new growth appear.
• Transplant the seedlings to an outdoor location after the new plant has reached 1 foot tall