Family: Bignoniaceae
Common name: Yellow trumpetbush, Yellow elder, Yellow bells
The name says it all! It’s yellow, looks like a trumpet or like a bell but much prettier. Yellow trumpet bushes are ideal small trees for gardens, blooming profusely through spring and summer.
Tree characteristics
It’s technically a large shrub but grows 6-8 meters, filling your garden with bright yellow flowers. The flowers are mildly fragrant; attracting hummingbirds, butterflies and bees to pollinate them.
Flowers are always produced in large clusters of 20-50, covering the tree with bright, beautiful flowers. The plentiful flowers and nectar attract pollinators like birds, bees, butterflies, and insects into the garden.
The flowers then mature into thin, long, swirly pods that are light green initially, and gradually become darker in color. These pods contain many light winged seeds that can be dispersed over a large area by wind.
Gardening tips
Yellow trumpetbushes need bright, direct sunlight to grow and flower well. Fertilize lightly just before the flowering season.
But these trees can tolerate drought, poor soil conditions and weather fluctuations, growing and blooming well in season.
Yellow trumpetbushes needs very little care and maintenance once the trees are mature. Occasional pruning will prevent the plant from growing uneven and unruly.
Uses of Yellow trumpetbushes
Yellow trumpetbushes are mostly grown as ornamental trees in gardens and parks, attracting butterflies, bees, and insects into the garden.
Roots of the plant are used to produce beer in some parts of the world. Parts of the plant have been used as medicine for many common ailments. These plants are also good hedge plants since they grow quite thick, filling the area with beautiful flowers.
Yellow trumpetbushes also have a taller cousin in the same family, by the name of Markhamia lutea or Nile tulips.
Propagation is through seeds.
Photographed at: Nagavara, Bangalore and Olde Bangalore Resort
