TABEBUIA palmeri (Pink Trumpet Tree)

The Pink Trumpet Tree (Handroanthus impetiginosus, long sold in Australia as Tabebuia palmeri) spends late winter bare, then covers every branch in pink trumpet flowers before a leaf appears. It settles at about 9m tall and 6m wide, a proper shade tree rather than a forest giant. For a few weeks each year nothing else in the garden gets looked at.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers on bare wood. The display lands before the leaves return, so nothing green dilutes the pink and purple.
• Real shade at maturity. A 6m spread throws usable shade over a lawn, a seat or a driveway turn.
• It brings the garden to life. Nectar pulls in birds, bees and butterflies through the flowering weeks.
• Fast growing and tough once away. It climbs quickly for a flowering tree, and handles drought and heat once established.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One tree on a front lawn or against a plain wall is the honest use. The flowering is too strong to compete with, so keep the underplanting quiet.

Shade tree. Set it 6m or more from the house and paving to allow for the mature canopy. Leaf drop comes in a short burst rather than trickling all year.

Driveways and avenues. Allow at least 8m between trunks so each canopy fills out properly. A matched run flowering at once is why this tree gets planted on rural entries.

Growing Pink Trumpet Tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, with shelter from strong wind while it is young. This is a tree for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens: it takes light frost only, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and hard frosting southern gardens sit outside its range.

Soil. It wants free draining ground and a deep root run. Work compost through a wide planting hole, and on heavy clay plant on a raised mound rather than into a bowl that holds water.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then ease off as it becomes drought tolerant. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough. Mulch 75mm deep, kept off the trunk.

Pruning. Very little. Shape the young tree to a single leader, lift the lower limbs for clearance, and do any structural work after flowering.

What to expect when it arrives

This is sold ex ground as a field grown tree around 3m tall, not a potted nursery plant. It is lifted with a root ball, so it arrives with genuine trunk thickness and immediate height, and it is supplied to order rather than off the shelf.

Expect it to sit still for its first season while the root system rebuilds, then push away. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare other flowering trees
• Browse the ex ground tree range
• Choosing trees for a driveway or avenue
• Feature trees for a front garden

Common questions

When does it flower?

Late winter into spring, on bare branches, with the peak running two to three weeks. A dry sunny run beforehand usually gives the heaviest display.

Will it grow in a cool southern garden?

No. It tolerates light frost only, so frost prone inland and cool temperate gardens will damage it. Keep it to tropical, subtropical and warm temperate areas.

How far from the house should I plant it?

Allow at least 6m, matching the mature spread, and more if you want to walk beneath the canopy. That clearance keeps growth off the gutters and the root zone clear of paving.

Does it lose its leaves?

Yes, it is deciduous and goes bare in late winter, which is exactly when it flowers. The leaves return once the display finishes and hold through summer.