Tecoma stans

Yellow Elder, Yellow Trumpetbush, Esperanza, Yellow Bells

Message of the Flower

Higher Mind

The Mother’s Comment

Its superiority lies in its capacity to open to the Divine Light.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

Higher Mind is one of the planes of the spiritual mind, the first and lowest of them; it is above the normal mental level.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - I: Classification of the Parts of the Being

I mean by the Higher Mind a first plane of spiritual consciousness where one becomes constantly and closely aware of the Self, the One everywhere and knows and sees things habitually with that awareness; but it is still very much on the mind level although highly spiritual in its essential substance; and its instrumentation is through an elevated thought-power and comprehensive mental sight—not illumined by any of the intenser upper lights but as if in a large strong and clear daylight. It acts as an intermediate state between the Truth-Light above and the human mind; communicating the higher knowledge in a form that the Mind intensified, broadened, made spiritually supple, can receive without being blinded or dazzled by a Truth beyond it.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Poetry and Art: Higher Mind and Poetic Intelligence

Colour

Bright yellow

Family

Bignoniaceae

Cultivars

Gold Star', 'Orange Jubilee', 'Bells of Fire', 'Esperanza Chicklet'

Person who named the flower

Juss. ex Kunth

Flower Size

About 2 inches (5 cm) long

Flower Texture

Smooth

Number of Petals

Typically five lobes per flower

Floral Symmetry

Radially symmetric

Fragrance of Flower

Fragrant

Leaf Texture

Serrated, glossy green

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite

Leaf Color

Dark green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Can grow as a shrub or small tree

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Frequent blooming throughout summer and fall

Climate

Best in warm climates; hardy to USDA zones 8-11

Water Requirements

Drought-tolerant but prefers moderate watering

Soil Type

Well-draining; sandy, rocky, limestone, loamy

Temperature Ranges

Can withstand a broad range of temperatures but not frost

Sun or Shade

Requires full sun for best flowering

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Susceptible to aphids, spider mites, and scale

Pollinators

Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

Habitat

Native to Southern United States, Central and South America

Role in the Ecosystem

Provides nectar for pollinators, used for hedging

Quotations

Not specifically documented

Ornamental

Widely cultivated for its attractive yellow flowers

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Mainly ornamental and medicinal

Endangered Status

Not endangered