Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Solar Flare Tecoma
Solar Flare is a mid-size tecoma that grows quickly to about 6 feet tall and wide. From spring through fall it carries clusters of tangerine orange trumpet flowers that hummingbirds, bees and butterflies come to. Full sun and the reflected heat off walls and paving suit it best. Plant one against a blank wall, a few in a group, or a row along a hot drive.
Best for: color against a hot blank wall, groups and rows along drives and walks, and a mid-size flowering accent in full sun.
Solar Flare thrives in full sun and the reflected heat off walls, drives and walks. Use it singly or in a group against a large blank wall, where its green leaves and orange flowers stand out.
It grows rapidly to about 6 feet tall and wide, well short of Orange Jubilee. Plant a row about 4 to 6 feet apart, center to center, for a band of color.
Tangerine flowers open from spring through fall, and hummingbirds, bees and butterflies visit them. Plant it where you can see it from a window or patio.
Freezing weather burns the leaves, and a hard freeze can take it to the ground until spring. It should be planted in full sun or reflected sun, so a shady spot is a poor fit.
- Close row or group4 ft apart, center to center
- Border or looser group6 ft apart, center to center
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. Regular warm-season water gives more flowers.
Freezing weather burns the leaves, and a hard freeze can take it to the ground. Wait until frost danger passes, then cut it back hard, and it jumps back quickly.
Tecomas do not need fertilizer, though a light summer feeding can push more flowers. Skip feeding in fall and winter.
Rolled, webbed leaves in fall come from leaf tier caterpillars. Cut off the webbed tips, and the plant handles the rest of the damage on its own.
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 Solar Flare get?
It grows rapidly to about 6 feet tall and as wide. Freezes can keep it smaller, but it jumps back quickly the next spring.
How far apart should I plant Solar Flare?
Plant it about 4 to 6 feet apart, center to center. Use 4 feet for a close row and 6 feet for a looser group. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your bed.
Can it take reflected heat?
Yes, full sun and reflected heat are ideal for it. It suits a hot wall, a drive or a walk in full sun.
When does Solar Flare bloom?
It flowers from spring through fall with clusters of tangerine orange trumpets. Keep it in full sun and water it through the warm months for the most flowers.
Does it attract hummingbirds?
Yes, hummingbirds come to its tube-shaped flowers, and bees and butterflies visit too. Plant it near a window or patio to watch them.
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.
Will more water give more flowers?
Yes, tecomas flower more and look fuller with regular water from spring until fall. They get by on less, but the bloom is lighter.
How cold hardy is Solar Flare?
Freezing weather burns the leaves, and a hard freeze can take it to the ground. The roots are rated to about 10°F, and it jumps back quickly in spring.
When should I prune it?
Cut it back hard in early spring, once frost danger has passed, usually around March. That removes frozen growth and gets it ready for the new season.
Does it need fertilizer?
Tecomas do not need fertilizer, though a light summer feeding can push more flowers. Skip feeding in fall and winter.
What are the rolled, webbed leaves in fall?
Those come from leaf tier caterpillars. Cut off the webbed tips, since tecomas handle a lot of this damage without harm.
What is the difference between Solar Flare and Orange Jubilee?
Both have orange flowers, but Solar Flare tops out around 6 feet while Orange Jubilee can reach 10 to 12 feet. Pick Solar Flare for a mid-size row and Orange Jubilee for a tall screen.
Solar Flare Tecoma for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Solar Flare is a fast tecoma that reaches about 6 feet tall and wide, with tangerine flowers from spring through fall. It is made for full sun and reflected heat, and hummingbirds come to it all season. Below are the questions people ask most, from size and spacing to watering, frost and pruning.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How big does Solar Flare tecoma get?
Plan on about 6 feet tall and as wide. It grows rapidly in warm weather, and a hard winter can keep it smaller for a season.
How far apart do you plant Solar Flare?
Plant it about 4 to 6 feet apart, center to center. Use the closer spacing for a row and the wider one for a looser group.
Is Solar Flare good for reflected heat in Phoenix?
Yes. Full sun and reflected heat are ideal for it, so it suits hot walls, drives and walks.
Solar Flare vs Orange Jubilee
Solar Flare reaches about 6 feet tall with tangerine flowers. Orange Jubilee can grow 10 to 12 feet tall. Choose Solar Flare when you want tecoma color without a tall screen.
How often do you water Solar Flare tecoma?
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 should you do with Solar Flare after a freeze?
Leave the frozen growth on until frost danger passes, then cut it back hard in early spring. It jumps back quickly once the weather warms.
Does Solar Flare attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Its tangerine flowers draw hummingbirds from spring through fall, and bees and butterflies visit too.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.