I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post this in, but I received some free bonus seeds from an eBay seller last fall that were labeled "Yellow Bells". This is a photo of the seeds. Do these look like Esperanza seeds? I am not familiar with this plant. Do you think if I start the seeds now in zone 5 that they will bloom for me this year or does it take a longer growing season. How large are the blooms.
Thanks for any information yoiu can give.
Susan
Those look like Esperanza(tacoma stans) seeds. I don't know how long they take to bloom from seed though.
I have some un-id'd Tecoma sp. (pretty sure not T. stans but very similar) that I started from seed several years back. I think the first one bloomed either the first or second year.
I love these. Here, they can bloom the first year and bloom almost all year long. They're used a lot in landscaping here. They grow pretty fast to 6-8' or more but they can be kept trimmed to any desired size, or pruned into small tree-like growth. The more they're trimmed back yearly, the fuller they get. Can be cut back to about 12" after the last frost for lush regrowth. The blooms are profuse and about 2" long. They take very little water after the first year or two and they can freeze in really cold temps. Great xeriscape plant.
I think I will try growing one in a pot this summer and see if it blooms. I don't have room to overwinter it inside, but will be interesting to see what it does. Thanks for the information.
susan
I start mine on damp paper towels in a plastic bag and when I see green, I transfer to soil. Mine bloomed the first year, but I started them in Feb. Some years they start easily for me and others they don't. This year I don't have any.
Thanks Brugie. I may save these seeds and start them next winter inside. I hate to grow something and not see it bloom.
Susan
