Bold Orange Blooms All Summer Long — Phoenix's Favorite Flowering Shrub

Orange Jubilee (Tecoma x 'Orange Jubilee') is one of the most spectacular flowering shrubs for Phoenix Valley landscapes. This fast-growing hybrid produces clusters of vibrant orange-red trumpet flowers from spring through fall, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies while shrugging off triple-digit heat. Whether you're creating a colorful privacy screen in Scottsdale, adding a flowering backdrop to a pool area in Gilbert, or brightening a xeriscape bed in Chandler — Orange Jubilee delivers explosive color with minimal care.

Orange Jubilee Bush Plant Details

Attribute	Detail
Scientific Name	Tecoma x 'Orange Jubilee'
Common Names	Orange Jubilee, Orange Bells, Tecoma Orange Jubilee
Mature Height	10–12 feet
Mature Width	6–8 feet
Growth Rate	Fast — 3–5 feet per year in Phoenix
Sun	Full sun (6+ hrs). Handles reflected heat from walls.
Water	Low to moderate once established. Drought-tolerant.
USDA Zones	9–11 (Phoenix is Zone 9b–10a)
Soil	Well-draining. Adapts to Arizona caliche soils.
Foliage	Semi-evergreen — may drop some leaves in cold winters
Bloom Color	Orange-red trumpet flowers

Orange Jubilee Uses in Phoenix Landscapes

Flowering Privacy Screen

Orange Jubilee's dense growth and 10–12 foot height make it an excellent choice for a colorful privacy hedge. Plant 4–5 feet apart for a full screen within 2–3 seasons. Unlike plain evergreen hedges, Orange Jubilee gives you year-round screening plus months of brilliant orange blooms. For a 20-foot fence line, plan on 4–5 plants.

Pool & Patio Backdrop

The vibrant flowers and lush foliage create a stunning backdrop for outdoor living areas. Orange Jubilee is a great pool-friendly choice — it doesn't produce heavy leaf litter and its deep roots won't interfere with pool plumbing. The trumpet flowers also attract hummingbirds, adding movement and life to your outdoor space.

Hummingbird & Butterfly Garden

Orange Jubilee is a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies. Its tubular orange flowers provide nectar from spring through fall. Pair it with Red Bird of Paradise, Chuparosa, and Desert Milkweed for a complete pollinator garden that blooms across multiple seasons in Mesa, Tempe, and Peoria.

Best Time to Plant Orange Jubilee in Phoenix

Fall (October–November) is the ideal planting window. Warm soil encourages rapid root establishment while cooler air reduces transplant stress, giving the plant a full growing season head start before summer heat. Spring (February–April) is the second-best option. Orange Jubilee can be planted in summer too, but will need more frequent watering during establishment.

How to Plant Orange Jubilee

1. Dig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, same depth as the container.
2. Check for caliche — break through any hardpan layer for proper drainage.
3. Backfill with native soil — a light 20% organic blend is fine.
4. Spacing — 4–5 feet apart for a hedge; 6–8 feet for standalone specimens.
5. Water basin — build a 3–4 inch ring to direct water to roots during establishment.
6. Mulch — 2–3 inches of bark or gravel mulch to retain moisture and keep roots cool.

Watering Orange Jubilee in Phoenix

First Year Watering Schedule

Weeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (20–30 min). Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days. Month 3–6: Every 7–10 days (5–7 days in peak summer). After Year 1: Every 10–14 days in summer; every 3–4 weeks in winter.

Drip Irrigation

Place two 2 GPH emitters 18–24 inches from the trunk on opposite sides. Established plants are drought-tolerant but bloom more heavily with regular deep watering during the growing season.

How fast does Orange Jubilee grow in Phoenix?
Very fast. Expect 3–5 feet of growth per year in Phoenix's warm climate. A 5-gallon plant can reach 8–10 feet within 2 seasons with regular watering.

Does Orange Jubilee freeze back in Phoenix winters?
It may lose some leaves or experience minor tip dieback during hard freezes, but it bounces back quickly in spring. In most Phoenix winters, it stays semi-evergreen with minimal cold damage.

What's the difference between Orange Jubilee and Yellow Bells?
Both are Tecoma species with similar growth habits. Orange Jubilee has orange-red flowers while Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans) has bright yellow flowers. Orange Jubilee tends to be slightly less cold-hardy but equally heat-tolerant.

Does Orange Jubilee attract hummingbirds?
Yes — it's one of the best hummingbird plants for Phoenix landscapes. The tubular orange flowers are perfectly shaped for hummingbird feeding.

You May Also Like

Yellow Bells — Same fast growth and easy care with bright yellow trumpet flowers.
Red Bird of Paradise — Fiery red and orange blooms on a heat-loving desert shrub.
Chuparosa — Tubular red-orange flowers that hummingbirds love.
Bougainvillea — Vibrant flowering vine for walls and trellises alongside Orange Jubilee.

How Many Orange Jubilee Do I Need?

Orange Jubilee matures 6 to 8 feet wide but is typically planted tighter, about 4.5 feet on center, for a fast flowering privacy screen. Use the table below to estimate plant counts by run length.

Hedge Run Length	Plants Needed (4.5 ft spacing)
15 ft	4 plants
20 ft	5 plants
30 ft	7 plants
45 ft	10 plants
60 ft	14 plants

As a standalone flowering specimen or pool backdrop, give each plant a 6 to 8 foot clear footprint. In a pollinator bed, group 3 plants 5 feet apart for a bold mass of orange.

Orange Jubilee Season-by-Season in Phoenix

• Spring (Feb–Apr): New growth flushes fast as nights warm, and the first wave of orange-red trumpets opens. Best second planting window of the year.
• Summer (May–Sep): Peak bloom season. Orange Jubilee flowers hard through triple-digit heat and reflected heat off walls, feeding hummingbirds all summer. Monsoon rains (Jul–Sep) push even heavier flushes of color.
• Fall (Oct–Nov): Prime planting season and continued strong bloom until the first cool snap. Roots establish quickly in warm fall soil.
• Winter (Dec–Jan): Stays semi-evergreen in mild winters. A hard Valley freeze below about 28°F can cause leaf drop and tip dieback, but plants resprout vigorously in spring. Cover young plants on frost nights and hold off pruning until growth resumes.

At a Glance

✔ Hummingbird-Friendly   ✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Heat-Loving (Reflected-Heat Tolerant)   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Pool-Friendly (Low-Litter)   ✔ Low-Maintenance

Plant It With

• Arizona Yellow Bells: the yellow Tecoma cousin for a bold orange-and-gold flowering screen.
• Mexican Bird of Paradise: fiery red-orange blooms on another heat-loving desert shrub.
• Chuparosa: tubular red-orange flowers that share Orange Jubilee's hummingbird traffic.
• La Jolla Bougainvillea: vivid magenta color to play against the warm orange trumpets.

Is Orange Jubilee Right for Your Yard?

Orange Jubilee is ideal for a full-sun, reflected-heat spot where you want fast height, months of orange color, and steady hummingbird traffic in well-drained caliche soil. Give it room to reach 10 to 12 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. It is not the best fit for a small, tightly contained bed or a frost pocket where a hard freeze and the resulting tip dieback would be a problem each winter.