Tecoma capensis

Cape honeysuckle

Bignoniaceae

Southeastern South Africa, Eswatini, southern Mozambique

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Tecoma capensis is an evergreen scrambling shrub or loose vine native to southern Africa, reaching 6-10 feet (1.8-3.0 m) tall when free-standing and 15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 m) when trained on supports. Stems are pliable and produce aerial roots in humid conditions. Compound pinnate leaves are 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) long with 7-9 ovate, glossy dark green leaflets each 0.75-1.5 inches (2-4 cm) long, with serrated margins. Curved tubular flowers, 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) long, are bright orange to red-orange and produced in dense terminal clusters of 8-15 blooms from late spring through winter in frost-free zones. Flat capsular seed pods, 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6.5 cm) long, follow flowers but viability is low in cultivation. Suckers from the base and roots prolifically; spreads underground 3-5 feet (90-150 cm) per year in irrigated soils. Hardy to about 25°F (-4°C); top growth dies at 28°F (-2°C) and regrows from roots in zone 9a. Listed as an environmental weed in parts of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific island nations due to root suckering. Nectar-rich flowers attract sunbirds in native range and hummingbirds in cultivated landscapes.

Native Range

Native to coastal and interior southeastern South Africa, including the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga provinces, and extending north into Eswatini and southern Mozambique. Found in coastal scrub, woodland margins, and rocky slopes from sea level to 5,000 feet (1,500 m) elevation.

Suggested Uses

Trained on fences, trellises, and pergolas as a flowering vine or grown as a free-standing shrub spaced 5-6 feet (1.5-1.8 m) apart for hedging in zones 9-11. Used as a slope cover and erosion control on banks, where suckering produces dense root mats. Grown in 15-20 gallon (57-76 L) containers on patios and entryways; root pruning every 2-3 years prevents girdling.

How to Identify

Bright orange to red-orange curved tubular flowers, 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) long, in dense terminal clusters separate T. capensis from other Tecoma spp. species, which produce shorter, less curved blooms. Pinnate leaves with 7-9 glossy dark green leaflets and serrated margins distinguish it from Lonicera spp. species (true honeysuckles). Scrambling habit with pliable stems and aerial roots separates T. capensis from upright shrub Tecoma stans, which reaches 10-25 feet (3-7.5 m) on a single woody trunk.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 25'

Width/Spread5' - 8'

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~40 weeks

Spring Summer Fall Winter

April through January in zones 10-11, peaking from June to October. In zone 9a, blooms June through November after spring regrowth. Individual flower clusters last 3-4 weeks; new clusters open on new growth, producing nearly continuous bloom in frost-free climates. Cool nights below 50°F (10°C) reduce flower production by 60-80%.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

orange to red-orange

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Water weekly during the first growing season; mature plants tolerate 3-4 weeks without rain in zones 10-11. Apply 2 inches (5 cm) of organic mulch in spring; mulch suppresses sucker emergence. Aphids and whiteflies feed on new growth in spring; populations decline with rising summer temperatures. Foliage chlorosis develops on irrigated plants in alkaline soils above pH 8.0; chelated iron applications correct symptoms within 4-6 weeks. Container plants in pots smaller than 10 gallons (38 L) require watering every 2-3 days in summer temperatures above 95°F (35°C). In zone 9a, cut frost-damaged growth to ground level in late February; new shoots reach 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) by midsummer.

Pruning

Cut back stems by one-third to one-half in late winter before new growth, removing crossing branches and shaping the plant to size. Tip-pinch new growth in spring to promote branching and increase flower production. Remove root suckers monthly during the growing season; suckers left in place form a thicket within 2-3 years. Hard renewal pruning to 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) every 4-6 years restores plants that have become woody at the base.

Pruning Schedule

winterearly spring