Yellow Bells

Name: Yellow Bells
Brand: Outdoor Dream Builders

Tecoma stans

Arizona native that produces masses of trumpet-shaped yellow flowers from spring through fall.

Reliably root-hardy in Phoenix Zone 9b-10a. It shrugs off extreme desert heat but freezes back to the ground near 25°F, then flushes back vigorously from the roots each spring.

AMWUA Notes

A true low-water Arizona native that blooms on low irrigation once established, needing only occasional deep summer soaks to keep flowering.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Water deeply every 7-14 days in summer to sustain bloom, tapering to monthly or less in winter. Established plants are drought-tolerant but flower more freely with regular deep soaks.

✂️Pruning

Prune hard to 12-18 inches in late winter to renew the plant and control size. Deadhead spent flower clusters and remove seed pods through the season to prolong bloom.

🌱Fertilizing

Feed lightly with a balanced or bloom fertilizer in spring; native soils usually suffice, so avoid over-feeding which yields leaves at the expense of flowers.

🛡️Pests

Generally pest-free. Watch occasionally for aphids on new growth and treat with a strong water spray or insecticidal soap if needed.

☀️Seasonal Notes

Blooms spring through fall, peaking in the summer monsoon. Expect frost dieback in winter; cut back frozen stems and it regrows quickly once soil warms in spring.

Soil, Feeding & Propagation

🪨Soil

Tolerant of most well-drained soils, including rocky, sandy, and native decomposed-granite desert soils.

💧Drainage

Needs well-drained soil.

🌱Nutrient Needs

Low feeder.

🌰Propagation

Grown easily from seed and reseeds readily; also rooted from softwood cuttings taken in the warm season.

📐Spacing

5-8 ft

🌳Roots & Placement

Non-aggressive roots, but it reseeds freely — remove volunteer seedlings to prevent unwanted spread.

Placement Tips

•Use as a fast-growing informal screen or background hedge — it fills in quickly to 6-12 feet.
•Site near a patio or window where the trumpet flowers and visiting hummingbirds can be enjoyed up close.
•Give it room away from walkways; it can sprawl 6-10 feet wide and drops seed pods.
•Combine with red- and orange-flowering natives for a warm, pollinator-rich color block.