Cape Honeysuckle

The Cape Honeysuckle, scientifically known as Tecoma capensis (often still listed as Tecomaria capensis), is a vigorous and exceptionally showy evergreen perennial vine or sprawling shrub. Native to the coastal and inland areas of South Africa, it thrives in warm, subtropical climates, often found scrambling over dunes, rocky outcrops, and along forest edges. It is highly adaptable to various well-drained soils and prefers full sun to partial shade. In Phoenix, Arizona, it is a very popular and widely planted landscape choice, celebrated for its ability to provide vibrant color in intense heat. This resilient plant can live for many years, often 20-30 years or more, forming dense, sprawling masses.

Its most distinctive characteristic is its long, arching stems that can grow as a loose shrub or climb aggressively with support, reaching 10-30 feet in length. The leaves are glossy, dark green, and pinnately compound, composed of several oval leaflets, providing a lush backdrop. The true spectacle of the Cape Honeysuckle is its profusion of bright, fiery orange to scarlet-red, trumpet-shaped flowers. These brilliant blooms appear in large clusters at the branch tips, often almost continuously from fall through spring and intermittently through the hot summer in warm climates like Phoenix. The vibrant flowers are an absolute magnet for hummingbirds, bringing lively activity and movement to the garden. While it does produce long, slender seed pods, its primary ornamental value is its stunning and prolonged floral display. The Cape Honeysuckle is exceptionally drought-tolerant once established, requiring minimal water, and is known for its fast growth and resilience to heat. Its vigorous growth and stunning color make it an excellent choice for covering fences, arbors, and walls, as a bank stabilizer, or as a large, informal shrub in xeriscapes and vibrant, low-water landscapes. However, due to its vigorous nature, it may require regular pruning to keep it in bounds.