Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Sierra Apricot Tecoma
Sierra Apricot is a low, compact tecoma that stays about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. All summer it carries large clusters of apricot trumpet flowers that hummingbirds and bees come to. It sets almost no seed pods, so the flowers keep coming without pods to clean up. Use it along a border, in a mass planting, or in a large patio pot.
Best for: low borders and mass plantings, summer color in front of taller shrubs, and large patio pots.
Sierra Apricot stays low and dense, so it fits along a border or in a mass planting where a tall tecoma would block the view. Plant them about 2 to 3 feet apart, center to center, for a solid band of apricot color.
Its small size suits a large pot on a sunny patio. Use a pot with a drainage hole, and set it where you can watch the hummingbirds that visit the flowers.
It sets almost no seed pods, so it keeps blooming through summer instead of putting energy into pods. Place it in front of taller shrubs for a low layer of color.
It drops its leaves when it dips below about 25°F, and a hard freeze can kill the stems back. It flowers best in full sun, so a shady spot gives fewer blooms.
- Tight mass planting2 ft apart, center to center
- Border or looser group3 ft apart, center to center
Water a new plant every few days, then stretch it out over about two months. Once it is rooted, soak it deeply every 1 to 2 weeks in summer and about monthly in winter.
It drops its leaves below about 25°F, and a hard freeze can kill the stems back. Wait until the last frost has passed, then prune it hard and remove the frozen stems.
Tecomas do not need fertilizer. A light feeding in spring and early summer can push more flowers, and you can skip feeding in fall and winter.
Rolled, webbed leaves in fall come from leaf tier caterpillars. Cut off the webbed tips, since tecomas handle a lot of this damage without harm.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Sierra Apricot get?
It grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide, with a compact, dense shape. That makes it one of the smallest tecomas, so give it a front spot in the bed.
How far apart should I plant it?
Plant it about 2 to 3 feet apart, center to center. Use 2 feet for a solid mass planting and 3 feet for a looser border. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your bed.
When does Sierra Apricot bloom?
It blooms all through the summer with large clusters of apricot, bell-shaped flowers. Keep it in full sun and water it through the warm months for the most flowers.
Does it make messy seed pods?
It sets almost no seed pods, unlike many other tecomas. That means less cleanup, and the plant keeps putting its energy into flowers.
Does it attract hummingbirds?
Yes, hummingbirds come to its tube-shaped flowers, and bees visit too. Plant it near a window or patio where you can watch them.
Can I grow Sierra Apricot in a pot?
Yes, its compact size suits a large, well-lit patio pot. Use a pot with a drainage hole and good draining soil.
Does it need full sun?
Full sun gives the most flowers, and it also grows in part sun. Pick the sunniest spot you have for the heaviest bloom.
How often should I water it?
Water a new plant every few days, then stretch it out over about two months. Once rooted, soak it deeply every 1 to 2 weeks in summer and about monthly in winter.
Does it lose its leaves in winter?
In a mild winter it stays mostly green, but it drops its leaves below about 25°F. The roots are rated to about 10 to 15°F. Cut back any frozen stems after the last frost, and it fills in again by late spring.
When should I prune it?
Prune it hard once the last frost has passed, usually around March in the Valley. Cut off any frozen stems at the same time, and it regrows quickly as the weather warms.
Does it need fertilizer?
Tecomas do not need fertilizer, though a light feeding in spring and early summer can push more flowers. Skip feeding in fall and winter.
What is the difference between Sierra Apricot and Sparky?
Both are compact tecomas, but Sierra Apricot stays lower, about 2 to 3 feet tall, while Sparky grows about 4 to 6 feet. Sierra Apricot has solid apricot flowers. Pick it for a low border or pot, and Sparky for a taller small shrub.
Sierra Apricot Tecoma for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Sierra Apricot is a compact tecoma that stays low, about 2 to 3 feet tall, with clusters of apricot flowers all summer. It sets almost no seed pods, and hummingbirds and bees visit the flowers. Below are the questions people ask most, from size and spacing to pots, watering, frost and pruning.
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How big does Sierra Apricot tecoma get?
Plan on about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. It has a compact, dense shape and stays smaller than most tecomas sold in the Valley.
How far apart do you plant Sierra Apricot?
Plant it about 2 to 3 feet apart, center to center. Use the closer spacing for a solid mass planting and the wider one for a border.
Can you grow Sierra Apricot in a pot?
Yes. Its compact size suits a large, well-lit patio pot with a drainage hole, and hummingbirds will find it there too.
Does Sierra Apricot make seed pods?
It sets almost no seed pods. That keeps the plant blooming through summer and saves the pod cleanup that other tecomas need.
How often do you water Sierra Apricot in Phoenix?
Water a new plant every few days, then stretch it out over about two months. Once rooted, soak it deeply every 1 to 2 weeks in summer and about monthly in winter.
What happens to Sierra Apricot in a freeze?
It stays mostly green in a mild winter but drops its leaves below about 25°F. Prune it hard after the last frost, and it fills in again by late spring.
Sierra Apricot vs Sparky tecoma
Sierra Apricot stays about 2 to 3 feet tall with solid apricot flowers. Sparky grows about 4 to 6 feet tall. Choose Sierra Apricot for low borders and pots.
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