How to Plant Esperanza Seed
Gardeners prize the esperanza plant (Tecoma stans) for its bright yellow, bell-shaped blossoms, which is why the plant is also known as the yellow trumpet and yellow elder. The plant thrives in USDA hardiness zones 10b through 11 and, once it's established, needs no watering except for rain, according to the University of Florida. Start your own collection of esperanza by collecting and sowing seeds from an existing plant's seedpods.
Collect seeds from a blooming esperanza plant. Seedpods emerge after the blossom wilts away and appear throughout the fall. Clip off a pod with pruning shears after it has dried on the plant. Break it open to reveal the seeds inside.
- Gardeners prize the esperanza plant (Tecoma stans) for its bright yellow, bell-shaped blossoms, which is why the plant is also known as the yellow trumpet and yellow elder.
- Clip off a pod with pruning shears after it has dried on the plant.
Fill a quart-sized plant pot with a well-draining potting soil mix, available from most garden stores or nurseries. Alternatively, make your own mix by combining equal parts of garden loam, aged compost and perlite or sand. Never use just dirt, as it's too heavy for esperanza seeds to germinate well.
Scatter two or three esperanza seeds onto the surface of the potting soil. Brush the soil with the tip of your finger to cover the seeds with a very light layer of soil.
Mist the soil surface with water from a spray bottle. Repeat three to four times a day or as needed to keep the soil surface perpetually moist. The seeds will typically germinate within two weeks.
- Fill a quart-sized plant pot with a well-draining potting soil mix, available from most garden stores or nurseries.
Thin the seedlings after the plants have reached approximately 1 to 2 inches in height. Pull out all of the seedlings except for the one that's the tallest.
Transplant the seedling outdoors once it reaches 4 to 6 inches in height. For best results, choose a garden area that has full sun and well-drained soil. Dig a hole that's the size of the current plant container. Remove the seedling carefully and place it in the hole before filling the hole around it.
Tip
If you choose to store the esperanza seeds for future planting, keep them in a cloth bag in a cool, dry and dark place. Seeds stored in airtight containers are more prone to fungus growth.
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References
- "The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Flowers from Seed to Bloom"; Eileen Powell; 2004
- Texas A&M University: Yellow Bells
- Texas A&M University: Esperanza (Tecoma stans)
Tips
- If you choose to store the esperanza seeds for future planting, keep them in a cloth bag in a cool, dry and dark place. Seeds stored in airtight containers are more prone to fungus growth.
Writer Bio
Joshua Duvauchelle is a certified personal trainer and health journalist, relationships expert and gardening specialist. His articles and advice have appeared in dozens of magazines, including exercise workouts in Shape, relationship guides for Alive and lifestyle tips for Lifehacker. In his spare time, he enjoys yoga and urban patio gardening.
