How to Grow Esperanza Yellow Bells

Yellow Bells have trumpet flowers

Esperanza or Yellow Bells is a perennial shrub that grows in Southern United States, Zone 8 or higher. There are different kinds, but the common one is Tecoma stans in the family known as Bignoniaceae. This one is called Gold Star Yellow Bells or Gold Star Esperanza.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• An esperanza plant
• A container or warm climate
• trowel, soil, water

1. Find a sunny location to plant the Esperanza plant. It likes sun and low water. A large container is suitable, too, and it can be protected if necessary. Esperanza does well in Central Texas, but sometimes dies out in North Texas. It grows well in Southern New Mexico and Arizona, too.

2. 

   Give this plant lots of room. It is a perennial shrub, and often grows six feet tall and about four feet wide, so it is not suitable for the front of the flower bed. Place it toward the back or along the edge.

3. Water and fertilize the Esperanza when first planted and at the start of the growing season. Once established, it can take long periods of dry or drought conditions.

4. 

   Watch for large trumpet-shaped yellow flowers. This plant has large blooms and many of them, once it gets established. It blooms from May until October with proper care.

5. 

   Look for seeds after the flowers. These are long beans. Removal of the beans early will result in more flowers, but mature beans will be suitable for potting for new plants. Save some beans to grow new Esperanza plants in case yours does not survive.

6. Cut this plant to the ground in January, and it will be bushier and more beautiful the next year. You can grow Esperanza or Yellow Bells with little effort in Central Texas. In North Texas, move the plant to shelter at the first hard freeze, or cover it on cold nights.

Tips & Warnings

• We often write about landscaping and flowering plants. See more articles in Resources below.

• copyright 2009 Linda Richard

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