Tecoma stans shrubs add color, vitality to landscape

Many Las Vegans are surprised at the abundance of vibrant-colored blooms coming from new desert-loving plants, and they're easy to grow. New shrubs are coming because of dedicated plant explorers searching the Southwest deserts for new introductions.

I want to tell you about varieties of Tecoma stans shrubs that have an abundance of striking flowers. They come to us from Mountain States Wholesale Nursery in Arizona and are sold by Star and Plant World nurseries.

These shrubs have the following distinctive features:

■ Trumpet-shaped flowers

■ Striking colors that really attract attention

■ Long blooming periods

■ Attract hummingbirds

■ Are low in maintenance

■ Are clean, handsome plants

■ Are almost pest free

■ Thrive in full and reflective sun, a big plus

■ They do freeze down, but bounce back quickly the next spring

Here are some that caught my attention at the Springs Preserve.

Sunrise: This beauty produces glorious orange-yellow flowers. Each flower bud has a burnished copper color on it, and also on the back of each bloom. It drops spent flowers quickly so it's clean looking. It doesn't set seed until late fall, which means a constant supply of new blossoms all summer. If the frost doesn't get it, the plant will reach eight feet tall and as wide.

Sierra apricot: It delivers a commanding punch of apricot-colored flowers all season. This small gem is compact and dense. Because it's seed free, it blooms throughout the season with large clusters of bell-shaped flowers. If temperatures stay above 25 degrees, it remains green, but if frosted it will bloom quickly late in the next spring.

Gold star: This beauty comes from Texas A&M University's "Texas Superstar" program. It introduces and markets plants noted for reliability and performance. It charges a royalty to continue its research. This bush was selected for its early blooming habit. Large clusters of clear yellow flowers proliferate on this compact shrub, covering its bright green foliage from the last frost to fall's first frost. It's noted for its extreme heat tolerance and pest resistance. It is particularly appealing in containers or mass plantings. Expect growth to get waist high in a single season. It may reach six feet if it doesn't freeze.

Orange jubilee: This upright shrub has lush green foliage and produces masses of orange-red flowers all season. After flowering, a few long, narrow tan seedpods persist. It thrives in full and reflected heat exposures. In the right setting and with protection, it won't go dormant. It easily gets eight feet high and as wide.

Crimson flare: For several years, Mountain States Wholesale Nursery has been breeding Tecomas in the hunt for a red-flowering selection. Crimson flare was that find. It displays clusters of red flowers through the season, but they may bleach to pink when it's hot. This clone has outstanding deep green foliage, providing a showy backdrop for its reddish blossoms. Full sun and reflected heated locations are ideal for this heat-loving shrub. It grows rapidly to a mature size of eight feet tall and wide. Freezing temperatures will control the ultimate size. I'm planting this in my landscape.

Solar flare: If you want sizzling warm-season color in your yard, Solar Flare is the plant for you. Tangy tangerine flowers attract hummingbirds from spring through fall. Full sun and reflected heat locations are ideal for this heat-loving plant. It grows rapidly to six feet tall and as wide. Freezes limit the size, but it jumps back quickly the next spring.

Yellow bells: It blooms all summer with glorious clusters of large, bright yellow flowers. It stands out in all its glory at the Springs Preserve when covered with blooms. They are two inches long and as wide, occurring in large clusters. Expect flowers from late spring into fall. Even when not in bloom, the rich green foliage is a welcome addition to desert gardens. It gets eight feet tall and 10 feet wide if it doesn't freeze, but it quickly recovers. Minor frost damage increases flower production.

Linn Mills writes a garden column each Sunday. You can reach him at linn.mills@ springspreserve.org or call him at 822-7754.