Garden Oracle / Drought and Heat Tolerant Gardening / Tucson - Phoenix - Arizona - California

Growing Tecoma capensis:
Cape Honeysuckle

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Description
Form: A shrub with vine-like tendencies.
Leaf retention: Evergreen.
Growth rate: Moderate to rapid.
Mature Size: 7-10' high and wide. If trained as a vine, 25-30' long.
Flowers: Orange to orange-red, tubular, 2.5" long, five flared lobes. No fragrance.
Bloom: Fall, winter, spring, and summer.
Fruit: Small seeds.
Leaves: Green, glossy, ovate, saw-toothed edges.
Stems: No thorns. Flexible when young, no tendrils.
Roots: This plant spreads by rhizomes. It is invasive in warm, rainy regions, and even dry, mild climates when watered excessively.
Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, mostly when few other plants are flowering.
Toxic / Danger: No.
Origin: South Africa.

Cultivation and Uses
USDA hardiness zones: 9-11. The leaves and branches tend to die back at 25°F and below.
Heat tolerant: Yes.
Drought tolerant: Somewhat.
Sun: Full sun to part shade. It does best against south or west-facing walls. More sun means more blossoms.
Water once established: Once or twice a month in part shade. Weekly in full sun during the hottest parts of the year.
Soil: Well drained, pH 5.6-8.5 (acidic to alkaline).
Mulch: Before the first predicted frost in areas with winter freezes.
Prune: After the last frost, remove winter damage. Periodic pruning helps to keep it within bounds. Pruning improves stem and leaf density.
Litter: Low except for pruning.
Propagation: Division of rootball, cuttings, layering.
Uses: An ornamental vine or shrub. It can be draped over a fence to create a hedge.

Comments
Cape Honeysuckle is a member of the Trumpet Creeper family (Bignoniaceae) which includes Desert Willow. It is not a true honeysuckle, which are vines or arching shrubs in the Lonicera genus of the Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae).



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Tecoma capensis: Cape Honeysuckle - flower

Tecoma capensis: Cape Honeysuckle - flowers

Tecoma capensis: Cape Honeysuckle - with butterfly

Tecoma capensis: Cape Honeysuckle

Latest update: January, 2022
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