Tecoma

Tecoma is a genus of 14 species of shrubs or small trees in the Bignoniaceae. Twelve species are neotropical while the other two species are African.

The neotropical species range from the extreme southern United States through Central America and the Antilles south through Andean South America to northern Argentina.


Species
Tecoma capensis, commonly known as Cape Honeysuckle, is a scrambling shrub which is native to Africa. It grows to about 2 to 3 metres in height and a similar width. It is normally an evergreen shrub, but may lose its leaves in colder climates. It produces orange to orange-red flowers at different times throughout the year. The species occurs naturally in South Africa, Swaziland and southern Mozambique. Cape Honeysuckle has been in cultivation for many years and is often used for hedging.

Tecoma stans - The perennial shrub Tecoma stans is known by the common English names Yellow Trumpetbush, Yellow Bells, "Yellow Elder" and ginger-thomas. It has many Spanish names as well, including esperanza, which is Spanish for "hope." It is native to South and Central America, north to Mexico and the southwestern United States. It has been introduced to several other regions, including southern Africa, the Philippines and Hawaii. Tecoma stans is the official flower of the United States Virgin Islands. It has become a nuisance weed on several Pacific islands, especially in French Polynesia where it is called piti.
Yellow Trumpetbush is an attractive plant which is cultivated as an ornamental. It has sharply-toothed, lance-shaped green leaves and bears large, showy, bright golden yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. It is drought-tolerant and grows well in warm climates. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The plant produces pods containing yellow seeds with papery wings. The plant is desirable fodder when it grows in fields grazed by livestock.
The leaves and roots of the plant contain bioactive compounds, especially monoterpenes, which may have medicinal uses.
It readily colonizes disturbed, rocky, sandy, and cleared land and occasionally becomes an invasive weed.
It is the national flower of The Bahamas.

Tecoma arequipensis

Tecoma castanifolia

Tecoma fulva

Tecoma nyassae

Tecoma sambucifolia

Tecoma cochabambensis

Tecoma garrocha

Tecoma tenuiflora

Tecoma guarume

Tecoma tanaeciiflora

Tecoma weberbaueriana

Tecoma rosifolia

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