About Cape Honeysuckle

Cape Honeysuckle or Tecoma capensis is a vine-like shrub native to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. It is an ornamental plant that attracts nectar-feeding butterflies and birds.

Identification

Cape Honeysuckle has pinnately compound leaves, which means that the leaflets grow opposite one another in a fern-like row along the stem. The shrub produces 2-inch-long tube-shaped scarlet or reddish-orange flowers. Some cultivars have also been bred to produce orange or yellow flowers. The plant grows to be around 10 feet tall with a 5-foot spread.

Cultivation

Cape Honeysuckle grows well in regular soil with good drainage, in full sun or light shade. According to the University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension, it is heat and drought tolerant but should be watered thoroughly once a week to maintain the plant's lushness. It is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11 and can handle temperatures as low as 26 degrees F (see Resources section).

Uses

According to Floridata, Cape Honeysuckle is often trained to grow against walls or trail over the sides. It is also used as an accent shrub and can be trained to climb over a garden arch. Cape Honeysuckle makes an attractive climbing vine if it is tied, and makes a colorful hedge or barrier.

References

• Floridata: Tecomaria Capensis
• Plantz Africa: Tecoma Capensis
• University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension: Tecomaria Capensis

Resources

• The United States National Arboretum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map