Plant Library

Other Names:  Handroanthus impetiginosus, Pink Lapacho

Description:

A breathtaking flowering tree with clusters of pink blossoms that cover the tree in spring, before the leaves; needs protection from prolonged freezes; best in full sun and needs minimal care once established; a stunning landscape accent or street tree

Ornamental Features

Pink Trumpet Tree features showy clusters of pink trumpet-shaped flowers with yellow throats at the ends of the branches from late winter to mid spring before the leaves. It has attractive dark green deciduous foliage which emerges coppery-bronze in spring. The oval compound leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall color. The furrowed gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Pink Trumpet Tree is a deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Pink Trumpet Tree is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Pink Trumpet Tree will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America.

Pink Trumpet Tree is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.