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Information about plants & gardens for Brisbane & Qld |
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Originating in Central and South America, there are about 100 species of Tabebuia (some now reclassified as Handroanthus). This page will concentrate in those grown in South East Queensland and trying to sort out their true identities, which is easier said than done for this very confusing genus.
This one is a real head-turner. It's fairly common in Brisbane, and recognisable by the big display of pink bloom in winter or early spring. The individual flowers are distinctly pink and have a yellow throat, They are borne in in ball-shaped clusters.
Locally this tree is usually known as Handroanthus impetiginosus or one of its synonyms (Tabebuia impetiginosa, Tabebuia palmeri, Tabebuia avellanedae, Tabebuia avellanedae). In the past it has been erroneously called T. rosea as well. T palmeri seems to have stuck the most strongly and it is still being sold in Queensland under this name.
However, trees growing in California that were long believed to be H. impetiginosus (=T palmeri were discovered to actually be H. heptaphyllus. Comparing the information and pictures in an 2015 article about the issue [1] as well as a Brazillian botanical website [2], it appears we have similarly misnamed these trees in Queensland. This is not surprising if the nursery stock was originally imported from the USA.
However, all nurseries will be carrying it as Handroanthus impetiginosus or Tabebuia palmeri some combination of those names, so that's what to look out for if you're trying to buy one here.
Pink Trumpet Tree (Handroanthus heptaphyllus / Tabebuia palmeri) was the featured plant in the 31-05-2024 edition of Get Results Gardening, a weekly publication for Australians via email. When you request a free trial (go calyx.com.au/getresultsgardening.html for more information), you can ask for a copy of the 31-05-2024 edition if you want to see the Pink Trumpet Tree article (Australian residents only).
Locally, the other pink tabebuia that's seen the most is the one known as Tabebuia pallida. Brisbane City Council has the species it's planting in the streets listed as such. The flowers are a much paler pink than the above species and are scattered in smaller clusters over the tree, which tends to retain more of its leaves while blooming. The leaves themselves are quite glossy with almost rounded tips and smooth edges.
There is a great deal of confusion between this species and Tabebuia heterophylla - whether they are the same thing or whether one is a subpecies of the other. In the USA, a common trumpet tree they call Tabebuia heterophylla looks very similar according to published information. It's quite possible that we have the same thing that just got a different name attached to it when it was imported.
Past scientific names include Tabebuia argentea and Tabebuia caraiba. This one has bright yellow flowers but the common name silver trumpet tree and the synonym T. argentea both refer to the silver of the leaves. Apparently there are two different types in cultivation, one with quite silvery leaves and another with green leaves. All the local ones have an olive-green appearance so would appear to be of the latter type. This would explain why they don't look as silver/grey as many of the trees seen in pictures.
The tree is quite small (good for small gardens) but tends to grow quite crookedly without intervention.
Tabebuia aurea was the featured plant in the 17-12-2021 edition of Get Results Gardening, a weekly publication for Australians via email. When you request a free trial (go calyx.com.au/getresultsgardening.html for more information), you can ask for a copy of the 17-12-2021 edition if you want to see the Tabebuia aurea article (Australian residents only).
Another "golden trumpet tree" with yellow flowers. Not widely planted, but the tree below was spotted in Brisbane, so there may be a few around.
Also spotted growing in Brisbane, this tree is yet to be identified. It has flowers that are similar to T. pallida but the leaves are different.
This genus contains many species of trees which produce spectacular flowering displays. While they are valued elsewhere for the timber and medicial products derived from them, the tabebuias are primarily grown in Queensland as ornamentals.
They tend to flower in winter or early in the spring, providing colour before the many of the other of the tropical flowering trees. The pink-flowered species could even be considered a tropical substitute for the flowering cherries of the northern hemisphere.
Unfortunately, distinguishing between between various species by sight, even when in flower, is tricky. Several species look very similar and are variable. Scientific classification has also been very confused, given the number of names that individual species have been called over the years and the similarity of some names.
This was further complicated in 2007 when many Tabebuia species were moved into the genus Handroanthus and two others into Roseodendron. The changes are gradually starting to permeate horticultural literature but in the trade this whole group is still best known and mostly still sold as Tabebuia.
The common names are also very confusing, with vague names like "Pink Trumpet Tree" and "Golden Trumpet Tree" being applicable to several species. A huge number of common names are applied to individual species in various parts of the world. In the Americas, members of the genus or its timber are often called "ipê".
A limited number of species are commercially available In Australia. Furthermore it seems that there's been relatively little selection, hybridisation or breeding of Tabebuias for ornamental use done at a commercial level anywhere in the world. One named cultivar that is sold in Australia is T. impetiginosa 'White Beauty" (listed as T. palmeri). It has white flowers instead of the usual pink.
Some people have expressed concerns over the weed potenial of some Tabebuia species. Low seed-set or sterility (possibly through hybridisation) would be a therefore be a worthwhile criteria of any breeding programme in the future.
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 ABN 38 518 961 623 |