Tecoma castaneifolia ‘Hagar’

Tecoma castaneifolia “Hagar” is sometimes also called “gaudichaudi,” and in the past, T. castaneifolia was called “Batzra” in Hebrew because of the tree found by Nissim Pines in Moshav Batzra. It is originally from South America. It is a small, semi-deciduous tree that when mature reaches a height of about 7 m, and its rounded canopy spreads out to a diameter of about 5 meters. Its large, feathered leaves comprise 3–5 relatively large leaflets. They are glabrous and dark on top, while they are hairy and a brighter green on the bottom. The tree’s yellow flowers are prominent and impressive, arranged in clusters at the ends of branches. It also boasts a handsome and picturesque trunk.

The “Hagar” begins flowering in fall and continues all winter until summer approaches. The flowering is affected by the length of the day: it flowers when the days are shorter than the nights. In artificial lighting, the flowering is reduced, to the point where it will not flower at all. It is resistant to heat and frosts, but it is less comfortable in prolonged cold. Therefore, it is suitable for the entire country except for high mountain areas. It grows quickly and has a medium lifespan. It requires rather little water, requiring minimal auxiliary watering only until it is established, and afterwards only in particularly dry years. It will grow in all soil types except for saline or chalky ones. It is handsome to grow as a solitary tree or in a group, is well-suited for urban spaces and is absolutely good for private gardens of all sizes. It is important to ensure proper design of the tree in its early years so as to prevent breakages in winter winds (mainly in hot weather – when it is not shedding its leaves). It has a tendency to grow shrub-like, and if you want to give it the appearance of a tree, it must be designed in its early years to enhance its canopy.

This tree does not bear fruit, which is an advantage with its pleasant façade, without the appearance of seeds that impairs the appearance of many trees. This fact requires propagation that is nearly only vegetative, which maintains the uniformity of the existing clone and does not allow for variety arising from propagation by seeds.