TABEBUIA argentea (Silver Trumpet Tree)

Silver Trumpet Tree (Handroanthus chrysotrichus, still widely sold as Tabebuia argentea) flowers in one golden burst on bare branches in spring, before the leaves return. In a garden it settles at about 7m tall and 5m wide, carries silvery grey foliage through the warmer months, and has a non-invasive root system. This is an ex ground specimen, field grown to a size no pot can produce.

Why you'll love it

• A spring display with nothing to compete with it. Golden trumpet flowers cover the bare canopy for two to three weeks while the tree is still leafless.
• Silver foliage for the rest of the season. The leaves carry a soft grey cast that sits well against dark green hedging and rendered walls.
• Roots that stay out of trouble. Non-invasive, so it can go near a driveway, a path or a boundary without lifting them later.
• Built for heat and dry. Drought tolerant and heat tolerant once established, which suits a hot front lawn or a western aspect.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One tree in a front lawn does the whole job. At 7m by 5m it is the right scale for a suburban garden.

Driveways and avenues. Repeat at 6m to 7m spacing for a matched line. The flowering is simultaneous, which is what makes an avenue of these worth the money.

Shade for a small garden. The canopy is open rather than dense, so it gives dappled shade that lawn and understorey planting can still live under.

Growing Silver Trumpet Tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, and the more of it the better for flowering. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so hard frosting districts are outside its range, and a dry winter usually produces the heaviest flowering.

Soil. Free draining and moderately fertile. On clay, plant proud on a mound and work compost through a wide planting area rather than a deep narrow hole.

Water and feed. A lifted tree needs consistent water for its first two summers, deep soaked twice weekly rather than sprinkled daily. After that it handles dry spells. Feed a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring.

Pruning. Very little. Remove crossing limbs and lift the lower branches after flowering, once the leaves are back and you can see the shape you are cutting into.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as a single ex ground specimen: a tree grown in the field and lifted with a root ball rather than raised in a pot. You get a far larger tree than any container size, in exchange for a slower first season. Expect some leaf drop, a quiet year while the roots rebuild, and possibly a lighter first flowering.

Staking is essential, and so is consistent water through the first two summers. Trees are delivered Australia wide, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, with specialist transport quoted for a tree of this size. A minimum order of $300 applies before delivery. Every tree carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full ex ground tree range.
• Compare other flowering trees.
• See what else is available as advanced stock.
• Read about feature trees for a front yard.

Common questions

What does ex ground mean?

The tree was grown in a field rather than a pot, then lifted with a root ball when semi dormant. You buy far more tree for the money, and in return it needs staking, water and a season to settle.

When does it flower?

Spring, on bare branches, usually a two to three week display. Flowering is heaviest after a dry winter and lighter in a wet one.

How big will it get in a garden?

About 7m tall and 5m wide. Larger figures you may read come from its native South American range, not from Australian gardens.

Will the roots lift my driveway?

The root system is non-invasive, which is unusual for a tree of this size and one of the reasons it is planted along streets. Leave about 2m of clearance from hard surfaces as good practice.