Meet the Golden Trumpet Tree
Golden Trumpet Tree | Handroanthus chrysotrichus (or Tabebuia chrysotricha)
How do you know it’s me?:
I am sometimes evergreen but usually shed my leaves in winter.
My flowers are bright yellow and appear in clusters at the tips of my branches.
Each trumpet-shaped flower has 5 lobes.
I have a palmate leaf, which means a single leaf is made up of what looks like multiple small leaves (leaflets) joined at a central point.
My leaves are fuzzy on the underside and each of the 5 leaflets are a short, slightly pointed oval shape (longer ovals = different species).
My flowers give way to long, brown, hairy seed pods.
I have light brown bark that is rough-textured and ridged.
How big do I grow?: 25’ - 40’ tall and 20’ - 35’ wide.
Sun-seeker or shade-lover: Full sun
Where I prefer to put my roots: I grow best in well-drained and sandy soils and am very salt and drought tolerant.
Hardiness: Zone 9-11
Original home: I am native to Central America and northern South America.
Colors: BRIGHT yellow (there are other types of trumpet trees with other flower colors, like white, purple, and pink).
When I bloom: Late winter to early spring (when I've mostly shed my leaves).
Wildlife friends: Like many trumpet-flowered plants, I attract hummingbirds.
Flora Fun Facts: Many species in the genus Tabebuia or Handroanthus are prized for our very sturdy wood (also called yellow Ipe). Historically, it was used in Central and South America for weapon making, but today is more valued for furniture making and decking material.
More Info: The Golden Trumpet Tree's beautiful canopy of flowers creates a stand out specimen tree for any landscape. For a couple of weeks in the early months of the year, it creates an umbrella of gold due to the bright and heavy flower display at the ends of each branch.
Bignoniaceae family
Many still refer to it as a Tabebuia tree (ta-buh-boo-yuh), though the name has been changed.
Flower and leaf shed does create a little bit of mess and is certain to sprinkle the ground with gold.
The bark is believed to have medicinal properties in its regions of origin.
This tree likes a little fertilization in the few years after planting. It is very tough once established.
It's tough nature and drought tolerance allows it to thrive as a street tree.
