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Cape Honeysuckle Wikimedia Commons
Bignoniaceae

Cape Honeysuckle

Tecoma capensis

Vitality, generosity, warmth.

Family
Bignoniaceae
Genus
Tecoma
Native to
Southern Africa
Bloom season
Fall, Winter, Spring
Type
Evergreen sprawling shrub
Height
2–5 m
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained
Water
Low to moderate
Hardiness
9–11
Lifespan
Long-lived shrub

Did you know

  • Cape honeysuckle isn't a true honeysuckle — it's actually related to trumpet vine and jacaranda in the bignonia family.
  • Hummingbirds and sunbirds adore the long tubular orange flowers, which are perfectly shaped for their long curved beaks.
  • Despite the African origins, it's wildly popular in southern California, Florida, and the southwestern US, where it blooms almost continuously in mild climates.
  • It can be trained as a hedge, espalier, sprawling shrub, or even rough ground cover — endlessly versatile in warm-climate landscapes.
  • Cape honeysuckle is one of the few flowering shrubs that puts on its biggest show in the cool months of fall and winter, when most other plants are dormant.

Color meanings

Orange

Tropical cheer

Uses

  • Hedges
  • Hummingbird gardens
  • Slopes
  • Pollinator gardens