Trumpet Trees, Tabebuia, flowering now

[Eric in Orlando]

The different Trumpet Trees, Tabebuia, are starting to reach peak bloom around here. Recently, many Tabebuia species were moved into Handroanthus, including the 3 species common in central FL. The pink/purple trumpet tree, Handroanthus impetiginosus (formerly Tabebuia impetiginosa) have finished or been delayed by the cold a few weeks ago. Ours were just getting ready to flower when we had the light freeze. The stopped flowering but held the buds and are just beginning to open again. The gold and yellow ones are exploding.

Handroanthus chrysotrichus- Golden Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia chrysotricha)

Handroanthus umbellatus- Yellow Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia umbellata)

[Eric in Orlando]

Handroanthus impetiginosus x chrysotrichus (T. impetiginosa x chrysotricha), a hybrid between the pink and gold trumpet trees

a grouping of trumpet trees

[LJG]

Eric, is Handroanthus impetiginosus x chrysotrichus sterile? Have you grown from seed if not?

[Eric in Orlando]

Ours has produced some seed. Our tree is an F1 hybrid. F2 seedings (from F1s) are really variable. Most are the pinkish yellow combination but you do get pure yellow and pure pink specimens, too. Luckily they bloom within a couple years so the desired color forms can be selected.

[Fouquieria]

Len, last year my T. impetiginosa bloomed for the first time...perhaps a dozen blooms. I took one of them and mushed it into the face of two blooms on my T. chrysotricha tree, which blooms every year. Anyway, I wrapped those two blooms in some loose netting material and let the seeds set and mature. I took some seeds off those two pods and planted them out. I had tons of plants come up in about a dozen pots last year. I neglected most of them but ended up with about a dozen seedlings. Even though they came off the T. chrysotricha, the seedlings have leaves that look like the T. impetiginosa. I've planted them out on the bare lower lot. Even though they're small, they seem to be doing OK. We'll see what happens.

[LJG]

Ron, you mad scientist.

Got any more in pots?

[Fouquieria]

  LJG said:

Ron, you mad scientist.

Got any more in pots?

Actually there may still be a couple. I'll give them to Peter when he comes down here later this year...maybe I can talk him into dropping one off at your place.

[Eric in Orlando]

  Fouquieria said:

Len, last year my T. impetiginosa bloomed for the first time...perhaps a dozen blooms. I took one of them and mushed it into the face of two blooms on my T. chrysotricha tree, which blooms every year. Anyway, I wrapped those two blooms in some loose netting material and let the seeds set and mature. I took some seeds off those two pods and planted them out. I had tons of plants come up in about a dozen pots last year. I neglected most of them but ended up with about a dozen seedlings. Even though they came off the T. chrysotricha, the seedlings have leaves that look like the T. impetiginosa. I've planted them out on the bare lower lot. Even though they're small, they seem to be doing OK. We'll see what happens.

The foliage on on our H. impetiginosus x chrysotrichus looks like H. impetiginosus but it has the rough sandpapery texture of H. chrysotrichus.

A local grower created this and also H. impetiginosus x umbellatus. The flower looks very similar

[Kris]

Lovely trees..! And eric great visuals_thanks.

[Peter]

Tab. impetiginosa in my supermarket parking lot:

LA Arboretum:

Edited March 13, 2009 by Peter