Tecoma capensis

The Tecomaria (or Tecoma) capensis, contrary to its name of Cape Honeysuckle, is actually a bignonia and not a honeysuckle. However, it is more of a sarmentous bush, unable to climb on its own, rather than a true climber. The Tecoma is appreciated for its long late flowering, of a very bright orange, which brings a lot of charm to the late season. It is wonderfully highlighted by its finely cut foliage, with shiny leaflets, of a very bright green. Easy to grow in the ground in mild climates, this South African plant loves the sun and heat and tolerates summer drought once well established in deep soil. The Cape Honeysuckle is also a very beautiful subject for a terrace or balcony, to be stored in winter in colder regions. 

The Tecomaria capensis belongs to the Bignoniaceae family. It is native to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa and southern Mozambique. It is a plant for mild climates: as an adult, it can withstand brief freezes of around -7 /-8°C in well-drained soil, regrowing from the stump in spring if properly protected. Its growth is quite fast, its habit is erect and weakly climbing. It can be trained as a large dense bush through regular pruning or its branches can be trained on a structure. Its basal stems, whose nodes easily root upon contact with the ground, allow the plant to spread in width. This characteristic is often used to create large hedges, trimmed or not, in its native region. It will reach an average height of 5 m in the ground, in very mild climates and under good growing conditions. If cut back every year by frost, it will rarely exceed 2.50 m (8ft) in height. In a container, it reaches about 1.50 m (5ft) in height with a 1 m (3ft) spread.

The stems of Tecomaria capensis are punctuated by lenticels, small round and light marks, which distinguish them from those of other bignonias, which peel off in flakes over time. They bear foliage that persists if it does not freeze in winter. It becomes deciduous from -2/-3°C. The leaves are arranged in an opposite manner on the branches. Each leaf is divided into 5 to 9 oblong to ovate leaflets, irregularly toothed, of an intense and glossy green.

The flowering begins at the end of summer, late August or early September, and continues into autumn if the weather permits. The flowers are long, slightly curved and erect narrow tubes, measuring 6 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) in length, slightly flaring at their tips. The flower is adorned with beautiful protruding stamens and a long style. Their colour is a very beautiful vivid and pure orange. This flowering attracts many pollinating insects. It gives way to elongated pods measuring up to 25 cm (10in) in length, which contain numerous winged seeds. 

Tecomaria capensis absolutely requires protection during the first years of cultivation, even in regions that do not experience severe winter frosts. It is a beautiful shrub for USDA zone 8b, definitely worth trying in mild Mediterranean or oceanic climates. It flowers for a long time in a hedge or shrub border, adding a bright note to a time of year when colours are sometimes lacking. In the garden or on the terrace, it can be combined, for example, with the blue blooms of Plumbago capensis or Ceratostigma griffithii, whose foliage turns beautifully red in autumn. Some Mediterranean gardens have adopted it as a hedge: discreet annual pruning, after flowering, allows it to maintain a dense and welcoming habit for birds. When left free, the plant can run at the base of a wall or gradually cover it. It is often trained on trellises and wire. In very dry summer climates, a few deep but spaced-out waterings will be welcome.