How to Plant and Grow Yellow Bells

Add bright color to your garden with Tecoma stans (yellow bells), a large tropical shrub with dark green compound leaves and bright golden-yellow flowers. Native to many southern states and parts of Central America, this plant is extremely heat- and drought-tolerant; it can withstand the hottest summer weather. Yellow bells shrubs bloom from June until frost.

With its profuse number of large trumpet-shaped blooms, yellow bells stand out in most gardens. Though not fragrant, the flowers (especially red) are a favorite of hummingbirds and other pollinators like bees and butterflies. Plus, the glossy green foliage makes a beautiful backdrop for other plants when not in bloom. As they age, the plants can develop an attractive gray-brown corky bark.

Recent breeding breakthroughs have expanded yellow bells' color options to orange and red blossoms. Breeders are also attempting to create a smaller, more compact version of yellow bells better suited to containers.

Where to Plant Yellow Bells

Plant yellow bells in rich, well-draining soil in a location that receives at least six hours of sun a day. Space them about 4 feet apart when planting multiple shrubs. Use several in a row for a stunning hedge or privacy. These drought-tolerant shrubs do well in rock gardens and as focal points in the garden.

How and When to Plant Yellow Bells

Plant nursery-grown yellow bells shrubs in mid spring after the last frost. Dig a hole at least twice the size of the root ball and as deep as the container. Loosen the soil in the hole and amend it with compost or other organic material for excellent drainage. Place the shrub in the hole at the same depth as the container it was grown in. Backfill with amended soil, pressing down slightly with your hands to remove any air pockets. Water the plant.

Yellow Bells Care Tips

Yellow bells shrubs are low-maintenance additions to the garden that reward gardeners with three seasons of blooms.

Light

Plant yellow bells in full sun to encourage the largest number of blooms.

Soil and Water

Although it's a tough plant tolerant of many soil conditions, yellow bells must be planted in rich, well-drained soil with medium moisture for the most impressive display of blossoms and lushest foliage. That lengthy bloom time means yellow bells appreciates soil amended with organic matter.

Temperature and Humidity

Yellow bells is native in areas with hot climates and thrives in desert heat. Although somewhat cold tolerant, the plant dies back to the ground whenever the temperature dips below 25°F and returns promptly the following spring. This tropical plant grows well in sub-humid and humid climates and tolerates low-humidity climates.

Fertilizer

When planting yellow bells shrubs, add a slow-release 19-5-9 NPK ratio fertilizer to the soil at the rate of 2 cups of fertilizer per 100 square feet of planting area.

Mature plants benefit from an annual spring application of ammonium phosphate fertilizer at a rate of 2/3 cup per mature plant.

Pruning

Prune yellow bells in late winter or early spring after the threat of frost, removing old or damaged branches. If the plant dies back completely during the winter, remove all the dead growth.

Potting and Repotting Yellow Bells

Yellow bells aren't huge shrubs. If you want to grow a yellow bells shrub in a container, plant it in a general-purpose potting media mixed with a slow-release balanced fertilizer, following the product labeling for quantity instructions. Use a clay pot at least a foot wide for a single shrub. It must have drain holes to provide the necessary drainage the shrub demands. For the best blooms, place the container in full sun from spring to fall.

The shrub is fast-growing but usually tops out at about 3 feet tall. Repot it annually in winter, replacing the potting media and fertilizer.

Pests and Problems

Yellow bells is relatively immune to pests and wildlife damage. It may attract a leaf skeletonizer caterpillar that attacks the leaves, inflicting cosmetic damage. If this happens, prune the affected leaves and destroy them. The plant tends to bounce back quickly. If not, or the infestation is extensive, treat it with bacillus thuringiensis.

The shrub is vulnerable to root rot when it grows in soggy soil. Good drainage is necessary to prevent this.

How to Propagate Yellow Bells

Yellow bells shrubs can be propagated by seeds or stem cuttings.

Stem cutting: In late spring or early summer, remove 4- to 6-inch cuttings from the tips of the shrub. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of a cutting and dip it in rooting hormone. Fill 4-inch pots with well-draining soil or a soilless potting mix. Moisten the medium and make a small hole in the center. Insert the cutting in the small hole and firm the medium around the stem. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag to hold in moisture. Place the pot in a warm, bright area, but not in direct sun. Check periodically to keep the planting medium moist. Watch for new growth and remove the bag permanently when you see it. Repot into a larger pot if needed.

Seed: Yellow bells blossoms are followed by long, narrow beanlike seedpods. Let them dry on the shrub, and then crack them open to get thin papery seeds. Direct sow the seeds after the last frost in prepared soil and lightly cover them with soil to start new shrubs. If you prefer, sow them in small pots with well-draining planting medium and lightly cover the seeds with the medium. Add a clear plastic bag to maintain humidity and set the pots in a warm area with bright light. Check periodically that the planting medium remains moist. When you see growth, remove the plastic bag. Repot when needed.

Types of Yellow Bells

'Sunrise' Yellow Bells

Tecoma stans 'Sunrise' displays a red-orange throat on its flowers, which gives it the name 'Sunrise'. It blooms profusely and is a lovely addition to the mixed border. Zones 8-10