Hardiness zones
Sunset 11-13, 16, 18-28
USDA 8-11 (more cold tolerant than T. stans)

Landscape Use: Used similarly to T. stans as a medium to large floral accent shrub, background screen, specimen around large patios and ramadas exemplifying regional or Spanish architecture; best used in oasis and transition landscape designs settings, moderately attracts hummingbirds.

Form & Character: Evergreen large shrub, upright and open, stiff and rigid, festive, informal, subtropical to tropical. Though evergreen, winter is a time of quiescence for orange bells.

Growth Habit: Vigorous and upright to 10 to 15' but can be easily maintained at 5' to 10'. Hardened stems are very brittle and more upright than T. stans.

Foliage/texture: Opposite, pinnately compound leaves on brownish gray stems, leaflets coarsely serrate, stem lenticels and auxiliary dormant buds are obvious; medium texture.

Flowers & fruits: Orange trumpet flowers in terminal clusters; long, narrow, unsightly light brown bean pods.

Seasonal color: Orange flowers during all growing season, heaviest in spring and fall. In Phoenix, orange bells will not flower during winter except if it is planted in a warm sunny south exposure.

Temperature: Tolerant, heat loving, but freeze sensitive. In climates colder than Phoenix, orange bells can freeze to the ground in winter.

Light: Full sun; partial sun reduces flower frequency and intensity.  Does poorly in shade.

Soil: Tolerant, except high alkalinity will can cause general foliar yellowing.

Watering: Orange bells responds very well to regular water and fertilizer especially during the summer, tolerates only moderate amounts of drought.

Pruning: Prune hard in winter to control height and stiffen upright character.

Propagation: Seed, cutting

Disease and pests: In the Phoenix area, Texas and phytophthora root rot fungi occasionally cause sudden plant death, usually only in heavy soils with a former agricultural use history.

Additional comments: This is an intermediate to large accent shrub for moderately large to large spaces. Orange bells does not look as sparse during periods of winter cold and high summer heat as does T. stans.

There exists significant taxonomic confusion with regards to the correct botanical name for orange bells. Do a web search and you may find a veritable cacophony of "correct" scientific names. Orange bells is variously recognized as a hybrid between T. stans and T. alata called Tecoma x 'Burnt Out', T. alata 'Orange Jubilee', T. stans 'Orange Jubilee', or as Tecoma x 'Orange Jubilee'. Other recent cultivar introductions include Tecoma x alata 'Flaming Belles' and the interspecific hybrids Tecoma alata x Tecoma stans 'Sierra Apricot' PP20246 (apricot colored flowers) and Tecoma alata x Tecoma stans 'Bells of Fire' (red flowers, patent pending from V&P Nursery, Gilbert, AZ).