The end of winter in Swan City is always marked by the blooming of pink and yellow trumpet trees, but how much do you know about these flowering flora? These tips will have you saying Tabe-booyah.
Most trumpet trees are scientifically known as Tabebuia (pronounced ta-buh-boo-yuh), but some were reclassified as Handroanthus. Their more common moniker comes from their trumpet-shaped pink, purple, or yellow flowers. They can reach up to 30-40 ft in height and 25 ft in spread, so you can’t miss them when they start blossoming in late winter, just before their leaves grow back in the spring.
Yasalonis recommends referring to the ASPCA’s list of toxic plants to protect pets.
Photo by @alexander.mclendon
Is it true that these trees are toxic to pets? According to Anne Yasalonis of Polk County’s UF/IFAS Extension Residential Horticulture program, “The important thing to remember is that there are varying degrees of toxicity in many plants, and then the variety of animals/humans that are affected.”
They do have some toxic properties, but you should treat them with caution, like any other plant.
Trumpet trees are native to Central + South America and are Florida-friendly plants. They can survive winters in the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9b-12, which Lakeland falls into. If you’re looking to add one to your garden, follow these rules of (green) thumb:
- Look to the sun and plant them in a bright spot at least 15 ft away from your home and 10-12 ft apart from each other.
- Put down those clippers — there’s no branch trimming necessary.
- Get ready to work. Several of our followers pointed out the upkeep of cleaning fallen seed pods from your yard.
To get a trumpet tree of your own, you can buy seeds online or sign up for restock alerts at Sow Exotic or Wellspring Gardens.
