Yellow elder (Tecoma stans)

[Walt]

One day earlier this year (or late last year, I can't recall exactly) my wife liberated some seed pods from a yellow elder plant at our local Home Depot. She only told me about it after we got home and told me to sow the seeds, which I did. I wound up getting nine plants, one dying from what was some kind of mealy bug (I think) infestation.

In any event, I have eight healthy plants left, ranging from 2-1/2' to 3' high. Three of the plants are flowering, with the remaining plants developing flower stalks.

My questions are: What experiences has anyone had growing this plant (shrub/small tree)? What were your experiences with frost and freeze? Recovery from freeze, and how fast? How much sun is enough for the yellow elder?

Lastly, am I correct that the species of this plant is stans?

Since I have eight plants, I want to experiment in planting locations, such as full sun all day long to partial sun in more protected areas (thinking about winter survival).

I've done some Google searching on this plant but I value personal, empirical experience from those that grow or have grown this plant, more.

[Kailua_Krish]

I have one in Ocala (9a) that freezes to the ground every winter but is already flowering again by late april. I noticed that the big box stores are promoting these this year in force up here.

-Krishna

[Walt]

I have one in Ocala (9a) that freezes to the ground every winter but is already flowering again by late april. I noticed that the big box stores are promoting these this year in force up here.

-Krishna

The main reason I wanted to know more about yellow elder is mainly for planting location. I don't necessarily want to plant in my main landscape (anymore) plants that get whacked every winter and then take months and months to look good again. I'm having this problem right now with my ixoras. They got hit (cold damaged) harder this past winter than any winter previous to that, and I've had ixoras as part of my main foundation plants now for about 10 years.

Since I have eight nice yellow elder plants, I didn't know whether I should plant them each separately (stand alone) or maybe plant several of them in a clump. Maybe I will just experiment and do both.

In any event, it's good to know (from your experience) that they yellow elder comes back fast after freezing to the ground.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

I am always impressed with the bloom display and speed of growth for these elders. On the other hand, they look promising as a small tree but always disappoint me with their floppy growth. Even if they did not freeze back every year, you would need to cut them back every year or two to keep them in shape. I would use them as an accent to add color to an existing planting but I would not use them as a stand alone specimen.

[Walt]

I am always impressed with the bloom display and speed of growth for these elders. On the other hand, they look promising as a small tree but always disappoint me with their floppy growth. Even if they did not freeze back every year, you would need to cut them back every year or two to keep them in shape. I would use them as an accent to add color to an existing planting but I would not use them as a stand alone specimen.

Well, I was concerned that they might display floopy growth, as I was watering them the other day and the weight of the water on the leaves made the plants bend overexcessivly, IMO.

Yesterday I stepped up all my yellow elders from one gallon to three gallon pots. I used bamboo stakes in the pots and tied my elders to the stakes for vertical support. Once my yellow elders grow fully (root wise) into the three gallon pots I will plant them out.

[Kailua_Krish]

I am always impressed with the bloom display and speed of growth for these elders. On the other hand, they look promising as a small tree but always disappoint me with their floppy growth. Even if they did not freeze back every year, you would need to cut them back every year or two to keep them in shape. I would use them as an accent to add color to an existing planting but I would not use them as a stand alone specimen.

Well, I was concerned that they might display floopy growth, as I was watering them the other day and the weight of the water on the leaves made the plants bend overexcessivly, IMO.

Yesterday I stepped up all my yellow elders from one gallon to three gallon pots. I used bamboo stakes in the pots and tied my elders to the stakes for vertical support. Once my yellow elders grow fully (root wise) into the three gallon pots I will plant them out.

They make a nice complement plant in a bed with Clerodendrum ugandese, the blue flowers and foliage on the clerodendrum look really nice with the elder and both die down to the ground in the winter. Maybe put them in a bed with plants that have winter interest?

-Krishna

[Walt]

They make a nice complement plant in a bed with Clerodendrum ugandese, the blue flowers and foliage on the clerodendrum look really nice with the elder and both die down to the ground in the winter. Maybe put them in a bed with plants that have winter interest?

-Krishna

[Takil-Explorer]

Well I get plenty seedlings here from seeds from Cuba. For areas with some frost maybe you need them from a colder provenance like Northern Mexico or Southern Texas. And they like full sunn. Well I find it a very nice shrub!

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

Well wee can only keep them outside here during the sort summer.

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

And you also see them a lot on the Yucatan peninsula, so they are tropical for those folks whom only want it tropical...

Alexander

[Hillizard]

There's a relatively new hybrid Tecoma "Lydia" being offered in nurseries these last few years that I've become impressed with here in interior NorCal. It doesn't require frost protection, doesn't grow tall, flowers all summer long, can handle fierce sun and heat, doesn't form seed pods and performs well in a large pot (how I grow mine). Of all the Tecomas I have, it's the hardiest:  http://sunsetwesterngardencollection.com/the-collection/plant/lydia-tecoma I took these pictures below of my shrub today and in terms of blooming, it shows no signs of slowing down. It's a great plant to add some color around palms.  

[Hillizard]

After a mild winter here in interior NorCal, my eight varieties of Tecoma are blooming well this month. They pair nicely with smaller palms for color. This is Tecoma x ‘Sparky®’  with colors that match those of the Arizona State U mascot.

[Fusca]

5 hours ago, Hillizard said:

This is Tecoma x ‘Sparky®’  with colors that match those of the Arizona State U mascot.

I haven't seen this one before - looks cool!  I've seen the all orange variety in several locations but I've only grown the yellow one.  I knew there were several varieties ranging in cold-hardiness from zone 8a to 9 but I didn't know there were 8 (or more) varieties out there!  I think my 4 are all the more tropical variety which dies back to the ground below freezing but comes back strong in spring from the roots.  One of mine was attacked by mealy bugs recently but I think I caught it quick enough and killed them off with 3 applications of soapy water.  So far they haven't found my hibiscus or cosmos which is what has had more mealy bug problems in the past.