Golden Trumpet Tree

Golden Trumpet Tree (Handroanthus chrysanthus, formerly Tabebuia chrysantha) is a deciduous South American feature tree that covers its bare branches in bright yellow trumpet flowers in spring. It grows 6m to 12m high and 4m to 8m wide, grows slowly and flowers while still young. Plant it where the spring display can be seen from the house.

Why you'll love it

• A spring flower show. Bright yellow, trumpet shaped flowers open on leafless branches after the local dry season, usually in spring in Australia.
• Flowers when young. Unlike many flowering trees, it blooms when quite young, so you do not wait decades for the display.
• Room for bulbs. It loses its leaves in winter, so spring flowering bulbs planted underneath flower in the light just as the tree does.
• Tough on poor soil. It will grow on poor, dry soils too, and flowers best in full sun.
• Slow and manageable. Slow growth means it does not take over a garden quickly, and the furry tan seed pods that follow add interest.

Where it works best

Feature tree. Use it as a single specimen in a lawn or front garden, with 6m to 8m of clear space for the mature canopy. The open flowers also draw bees.

Under planting with bulbs. Plant spring flowering bulbs beneath it, so the yellow tree and the bulb colour arrive together.

Away from bushland. Keep it away from protected bushland, because it can self-seed.

Growing Golden Trumpet Tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the most flowers, though a partly shaded position works. It likes humidity and rain in the growing season, once the flowers and leaves emerge. Protect young trees from frost. It suits sheltered, frost free gardens in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate coast, and as a rule of thumb, where a jacaranda grows, this tree usually will too.

Soil. Free draining soil. It will also grow on poor, dry soils, so there is no need to enrich a difficult site.

Water and feed. Mulch when planting and water regularly until the tree is established, usually around 12 weeks, watering well in dry periods. After that, water an established tree only if summer is very hot and dry. A light application of slow release fertiliser in spring suits a young tree.

Pruning. Stake young plants. Little pruning is needed beyond removing dead or crossing branches while the tree is young, ideally after flowering.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Golden Trumpet Tree as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. A tube tree is small, so plant it into prepared ground soon after it arrives and stake it. It is slow growing, which makes it a long term plant, though it flowers when quite young.

The tube is supplied by our grower, so it is not always in stock. While there is none it shows as sold out, and pressing the notify button on this page sends you an email the day it is available again.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse flowering trees
• Feature trees for the garden
• More deciduous trees
• The best time to plant a tree in Australia

Common questions

When does Golden Trumpet Tree flower?

Usually in spring in Australia, after the local dry season, when the branches are leafless. The flowers show against bare wood, which is what makes the display so striking.

Will it cope with frost?

Protect it from frost, especially while it is young and staked. It is a tree for sheltered, frost free gardens.

Is it suitable for a small garden?

It reaches 6m to 12m high and 4m to 8m wide, so it needs room. It is better on a larger block than in a small courtyard.