The tree grows at low and medium altitudes, up to elevations of 1,800 metres. The trumpet tree grows in both dry and humid environments. It prefers full sun and grows in both poor and moderately rich soil in the young secondary forest and at the edges of the established secondary forest.
The trumpet tree grows in the south of Mexico, Central America, the Antilles, and the Northern part of South America, specifically in Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, and Brazil.
A pioneer species in disturbed environments
The trumpet tree is a pioneer species that typically grows in disturbed environments such as around the edges of forests, in grasslands and brownfields, on roadsides, and in suburban areas.
Trumpet trees that grow after natural or human disturbances make up the secondary forest. This type of forest is often filled with vines and fast-growing plants.