Tecomaria capensis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Bignonia capensis
- Gelseminum capense
- Tecoma capensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- teh-koh-MAH-ree-ah kah-PEN-sis
- Description
-
The Cape honeysuckle is an evergreen, tropical, perennial shrub or vine It is a member of the trumpetvine family (Bignoniaceae). It is native to southern Africa, but is widely cultivated in warm areas around the world. The species epithet means “of the Cape,” referring to the Cape Peninsula of South Africa.
The Cape Honeysuckle blooms in full sun to partial shade. It will tolerate sand and some clay. The soil should be moist and well-drained. Periodic pruning is necessary to improve stem/leaf density and to maintain size. Pruning is also necessary to remove any winter damage. The shrub may be propagated by division, stem cuttings, or layering.
The Cape Honeysuckle has several cultivars with flower colors ranging from yellow, apricot, orange, and red. They typically bloom from fall to spring. In warmer climates, they may bloom all year round. It is winter hardy in USDA zones 9-11. The leaves and branches will die back at temperatures of 25 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. The leaves are odd-pinnately compound with 5 to 9 leaflets. The leaflets are ovate with dentate margins. The flowers are brightly colored, trumpet-shaped, and measure 2 inches long. The flowers are arranged in clusters or racemes. The fruits are thin, long capsules that contain many seeds that are easily dispersed by the wind. The nectar of the flowers attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and honey bees.
In the landscape, Cape Honeysuckle may be used as a grand scale groundcover, espalier, or large formal hedge. It may be best grown in a container if maintaining its size is a concern.
Quick ID Hints:
- Odd-pinnately compound leaves with 5 to 9 leaflets
- Leaflets are green to dark green, ovate, and with dentate margins
- Showy yellow, orange, or red trumpet-shaped flowers blooming fall to spring
- Thin, elongated fruit capsules
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: Cape Honeysuckle has no serious disease or insect problems. Spider mites or whiteflies may occur if the plant is maintained indoors.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Apricot'
Apricot flowers and more compact - 'Aurea'
Yellow flowers and more heat tolerant - 'Coccinea'
Bright red or scarlet flowers - 'Salmonea'
Orange or pink flowers
- 'Apricot'
- 'Apricot', 'Aurea', 'Coccinea', 'Salmonea'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Apricot'
Apricot flowers and more compact - 'Aurea'
Yellow flowers and more heat tolerant - 'Coccinea'
Bright red or scarlet flowers - 'Salmonea'
Orange or pink flowers
- 'Apricot'
- 'Apricot', 'Aurea', 'Coccinea', 'Salmonea'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tecomaria
- Species:
- capensis
- Family:
- Bignoniaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- In southern Africa, the bark of the Cape Honeysuckle is used as medicine to relieve pain and to treat sleeplessness, bronchitis, fevers, and dysentery. They treat bleeding gums by rubbing dried powdered bark on their teeth. The leaves are used to treat diarrhea and gastroenteritis.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Layering
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Africa
- Distribution:
- Africa: Eastern Cape Coasts, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mozambique, Mpumalanga, South Africa, and Swaziland; Australia; USA: AZ, CA, FL, and HI; The Cape Honeysuckle has been cultivated in many countries around the world. It has been cultivated as an ornamental in Europe, India, Singapore, Australia, and islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It was naturalized in Australia and is now considered invasive.
- Wildlife Value:
- The nectar of the flowers attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and honeybees.
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 7 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Irregular
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- After flowering, the fruits appear as three to a seven-inch-long narrow capsule that contains many winged seeds. The small seeds have two membraneous wings, which make them easily dispersed by the wind.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are 2 inches long, five-lobed, trumpet-shaped, and appear in clusters. The colors range from red, deep orange, yellow, and salmon. The flowers tend to be red in cooler climates, and they are orange in warmer climates. Flowering may be somewhat erratic, with possible flowering all year round in some climates.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are odd-pinnately compound, opposite, green, glabrous, and glossy. The margins are dentate. There are 5 to 9 leaflets, and each leaflet is ovate in shape. It is evergreen in most regions, but it will lose its leaves in colder climates.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are gray and flexible when young. They have no thorns nor tendrils.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Salt
- Wind
- Problems:
- Weedy