BOTANICAL NAME: Tecoma capensis
COMMON NAME:  Cape Honeysuckle

DESCRIPTION:  Evergreen indigenous shrubs or semi-climbers with glossy compound leaves on many branched plants.  Terminal clusters of colourful tubular flowers appear, mainly in spring and again in autumn.  Cape honeysuckle bushes can grow from 1.5m to 3m tall and spread widely if left to grow unchecked.  Colours include orange, yellow, pale orange, salmon and red.

CULTURAL INFO:  Easy to grow plants that flourish in most garden conditions, except dense shade.  They are not fussy about soil conditions and are capable of withstanding drought conditions once established.  They require regular pruning and cutting back in most circumstances.  Regular fertilising every 2 to 3 months keeps them in good shape.  They withstand light frost only.

GARDEN USES:  Tecoma capensis are popular as hedges or screen plants, especially in “all indigenous” gardens.  They can be kept pruned into formal shapes, although this inhibits flowering.  They are good for mixed shrubberies where they combine well with Plumbago and Barleria.  The flowers attract sunbirds from far and wide.