Esperanza

When I drove up to my daughter's house a few days ago, I was greeted by this these beautiful bright yellow flowers growing on a large shrub next to the back door. This plant is called yellow bells or esperanza. The botanical name is Tecoma stans. It's a Trans-Pecos species that grows wild in rocky areas of south Texas. The range extends north to New Mexico, Arizona, and California, and south into Mexico, where it becomes a tree. It's very popular in landscaping, especially the cultivar called 'Gold Star,' which blooms earlier and more frequently than the native species and is more compact.



The foliage is very attractive also. The compound leaves are dark green, shiny and serrated. In nature in zone 7, yellow bells is deciduous and may freeze back severely some winters. The cultivar sold as 'Gold Star' is rated for zone 9, but can be grown here in central Texas with protection during the winter. It's popular for large patio pots also.



The seeds are formed in a long capsule resembling a bean pod, and each seed has two large, thin wings. Yellow bells is in the same plant family as desert willow and crossvine. All these plants have tubular flowers that are very profuse and showy. 'Gold Star' will bloom from spring to frost. The native species blooms from summer to frost and has narrower leaves than the cultivar 'Gold Star,' but it's also more cold-hardy.

The name esperanza means hope. The native species are triggered to bloom during the rainy season in the desert. So the name esperanza may mean the hope that the rains will come. We've definitely had our hopes rewarded these last two weeks!