Puerto Rico's Official Flower: The Yellow Elder (Tecoma stans)

The official flower of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is Tecoma stans, commonly known as the Yellow Elder or Yellow Bells.

Botanical Profile

• Family: Bignoniaceae
• Habit: Fast-growing shrub or small tree (10–25 ft)
• Flowers: Bright yellow, trumpet-shaped, year-round blooming
• Leaves: Pinnately compound, bright green
• Native range: Americas (Texas to Argentina, Caribbean)

Cultural Significance

Adopted as the territorial flower in 1930, the Yellow Elder represents Puerto Rico's tropical beauty and resilience. It thrives in coastal and urban environments, lining roads and gardens across the islands.

Ecological Value

• Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies
• Drought-tolerant once established
• Used in traditional medicine (caution: contains bioactive compounds)

While not endemic, its ubiquity and cultural embrace make it a fitting floral emblem for La Isla del Encanto.