U.S. Virgin Islands Territorial Flower

Yellow Cedar (common name)
Tecoma stans (scientific name)

Overview

The yellow cedar blossom, the U.S. Virgin Islands official territorial flower, grows on large bushes or small trees. In the U.S.V.I., the plants are evergreen and flower year-round. The plant has a variety of names, including yellow cedar and yellow elder, but is completely unrelated to both of those trees. In the U.S.V.I., it’s commonly called "ginger Thomas." It became the territory’s official flower in 1934 by governor’s proclamation. The fragrant yellow flowers are trumpet-shaped and attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, though honey produced from the flowers isn’t edible.

The open end of each trumpet has five scallops imitating five petals. Flowers grow in clusters, and a tree in full bloom is very noticeable. After flowering, the plants produce long, slender, bean-like pods full of light brown seeds with papery wings that catch the wind, distributing new plants. In favorable conditions, the plants can take over open areas and even become invasive. The plant’s leaves are pinnately (featherlike) compound, usually growing in groups of three to seven and looking somewhat like elder leaves. The undersides of the leaves have hairs.

Close-up

STATUS

Official

PHYSICAL DETAILS

Duration: Perennial
Plant: Large shrub or small tree
Mature Height: 20 ft
Flowering: Octpber through December
Flowers: 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) trumpets
Flower Color: Yellow
Leaves: 2–3 in (5–7.6 cm) toothed, pointed, green
Fruit/Seed Color: Brown

HABITAT

Location: Any warm, sunny area
Range: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

TRIVIA

• In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the yellow cedar is evergreen and flowers year-round, though blooms are more abundant from October through December. In chillier climates, it will drop its leaves in winter and flower only during the summer.
• The plants are common in the Caribbean and are also the official flowers of the Bahamas. In French Polynesia, however, the plants are so invasive that they’re considered weeds. These trees are originally from South America, but are now common across the tropics.

Click to enlarge an image

Yellow Cedar Flowers

Yellow Cedar Seed Pods

CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Scrophulariales
Family:	Bignoniaceae
Genus:	Tecoma
Species:	T. stans

Author: World Trade Press