Tecoma stans has potential as ornamental flowering plant

Purdue Univ. horticulture professor Roberto Lopez and doctoral student Arianna Torres have developed a set of propagation and production protocols for Tecoma stans. The shrub, which produces yellow trumpet-like flowers, is native to Central and South America. The two researchers have determined the optimal light intensity, temperature and photoperiod for the plant.
“It’s an energy-intensive crop because it needs supplemental light and warm temperatures, but it can be a profitable crop for growers,” Lopez said.
T. stans is not a target of most pests found in Indiana and it is drought-tolerant. Although it is a perennial in its native environment, the plant won’t survive Indiana winters. Lopez said the plant potentially could be overwintered indoors, but it would likely be grown as an annual in Indiana that could be potted or planted in a flowerbed for one season.
Lopez and Torres are developing an extension bulletin that will provide commercial growers with detailed cultural specifications for producing and flowering the plant.

Pictured: Purdue Univ. horticulture professor Roberto Lopez and doctoral student Ariana Torres developed production protocols for Tecoma stans, a tropical flowering shrub.
Photo by Tom Campbell, Purdue Agricultural Communication