The Compact Tropical Bloomer That Hummingbirds Can't Resist

If you're looking for a way to attract hummingbirds to your garden, you'll love 'Bells of Fire' Tecoma (Tecoma stans 'TEC6010916'). 'Bells of Fire' is a cultivar derived from Tecoma stans (yellow bells). This hummingbird magnet blooms all summer long and attracts not only hummingbirds but also butterflies and other pollinators. The red-orange beauty is small and compact enough for a micro-garden, but can be massed for spectacular effect if you have the space available. Tecoma, in general, is native to parts of North America including Arizona, Texas, and Florida. The cultivar itself was developed to provide a smaller, more manageable Tecoma plant. 'Bells of Fire' isn't for everyone, though: it thrives only as a perennial in hardiness zones 9 to 11, which means it does best in warm-to-tropical climates such as those in the southern U.S., California, and Hawaii.

Hummingbirds are crazy about 'Bells of Fire', and for good reason, because they meet all the criteria for flowers hummingbirds love. To start with, hummers are attracted to bright colors, and you can't beat the orange-red bells of fire for sheer exuberant vibrance. The birds adore nectar, and 'Bells of Fire' produce nectar in abundance. Then, many hummingbird species' beaks are built to dip deep into tubular blossoms, making these trumpet-shaped blossoms a perfect evolutionary match.

You can buy 'Bells of Fire' Tecoma at many nurseries. Once planted, whether in a container or garden bed, 'Bells of Fire' grow quickly to a maximum size of 5 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. Use them as a single brilliant focal point, create a vibrant hedge, or pop them into containers near the door. When planning to grow 'Bells of Fire', select a spot in full sun where the soil drains well. These flowers aren't especially picky about soil type and will even thrive in clay-rich spots. These plants are drought resistant, so they don't need a lot of water once they're established.

Once you've purchased your flowers, water them before planting. Dig a hole double the size of the pot you've purchased, and place the 'Bells of Fire' so that it rises a little above ground soil level. Then back fill it, water it, and you're set to go. You can expect the plant to continue blooming all summer. They're also a flowering plant you should deadhead for maximum blooms. In fact, 'Bells of Fire' can become part of a lovely cutting garden because you can cut blooms to display indoors without injuring the plant.