Overview

Tabebuia rosea is a upright tree in the genus Tabebuia, part of the Bignoniaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Tabebuia rosea grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H1b. Suggested uses include specimen tree and ornamental. It is native to Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua, Panamá and Venezuela.

About

Tabebuia rosea is a deciduous, upright tree that produces a conspicuous flush of pink trumpet-shaped flowers. Native to Central and northern South America, it is grown as a specimen or ornamental tree. In the UK it flowers from May to July and sheds its leaves outside the growing season. It prefers full sun and a south-facing, sheltered position in neutral loam with good drainage.

About the genus

Tabebuia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae. Tabebuia consists almost entirely of trees, but a few are often large shrubs. A few species produce timber, but the genus is mostly known for those that are cultivated as flowering trees.

Wikipedia contributors, "Tabebuia", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Tabebuia

In the garden

Tabebuia rosea is a tropical, deciduous tree native to parts of Central America and northern South America. Gardeners value it as an ornamental specimen for the seasonal display of pink, trumpet-shaped flowers; in the UK the bloom period runs from May to July. The genus Tabebuia is best placed where its seasonal flowering can be appreciated against clear sightlines rather than lost in dense planting. Plant it in a sunny, south-facing, sheltered position on neutral loam that drains freely. It performs on soils described as loam at neutral pH and prefers well-drained conditions; avoid waterlogged hollows. Exposure should be sheltered from cold winds that a tender species will not tolerate; in plain terms it is classed H1b, so it is effectively a tender tree in UK conditions and will need the protection of a warm, frost-free glasshouse or a very sheltered microclimate to thrive outdoors. Use Tabebuia rosea as a standalone specimen on a lawn, at the end of a long drive or as a focal point in a large ornamental border where its seasonal flowering can be seen from windows and paths. Expect the main display of pink trumpets in the UK between May and July, which makes it particularly useful for late spring to early summer colour.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Tabebuia

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Loam

Soil pH

Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H1b

Plant details

Tabebuia rosea size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Tree

Habit

Upright

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Specimen tree, ornamental

Native to

Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua, Panamá, Venezuela

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Tabebuia rosea

Propagation

Seed, grafting

Pest resistance

Susceptible to aphids

Disease resistance

Susceptible to powdery mildew

Frequently asked questions