14 Jan Yellow bells
Tecoma stans
Popular because of its magnificent floral display,
Yellow Bells is on the increase on roadsides and
disturbed bushland. Easy to grow, they are often
sold at local fetes or backyard traded.
Family: Bignoniaceae
Origin: Central and South America. Mexico, Peru and Equador
Habit: Evergreen many branched shrub or small tree 4-7m high.
Leaves: Compound leaves to 8-25cm long, comprised of 5-13 leaflets.
Leaflets are toothed and pointed, 2.5-10cm long and
8-30mm wide.
Flowers: Large clusters of showy, bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers
in Spring-Summer. Formed at the branch tips and forks.
Fruit: Green bean like seed pods aging brown, 10-22cm long x
20mm wide produced from spring to autumn, each containing
numerous winged seeds.
Roots: Substantial tap root that gives rise to many laterals.
Dispersal: Seed spread by water, wind, humans, contaminated soil
(earthmoving equipment, car tyres etc) and garden
refuse dumping.
Control: Hand Dig juvenile plants. Cut and Paint or Scrape and Paint.
Bag and dispose of all seed pods.
