The Golden Trumpet Tree is as rare sight in SC and a welcome one in late winter. Trees are covered with bright yellow trumpet shaped flowers. Growing 20-30' tall with a variable shape, upright to spreading umbrella shaped. I was a little late for this shot.
Leaves opposite, deciduous, palmately compound with 3-5 leaflets, dark green upper surface, lower surface with hairs. Leaflets elliptical to obovate, 4" long.
Twigs and buds are densely covered with coppery colored hairs
Flowers are borne in droopy clusters of 3-5 flowers each about 2-3" long, trumpet shaped with reddish brown streaks on the inner surface of the petals. Calix (sepals) have the same pubescence as the stems.
Fruit is an elongated capsule, 8" long more or less straight, covered with the same coppery colored hairs, persisting most all year. Opening to reveal seeds with long wings. (Same family as the Catalpas so the fruit and seeds are similar.)
Synonym: Handroanthus chrysotrichus
Misidentification:
Around here I doubt it, in SoCal, there are other species.
Location:
Capitola
4570 Opal St.
