Cape honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis)
Care, watering, light and tips for Cape honeysuckle on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Bignoniaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 3 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Cape honeysuckle
Tecomaria capensis, commonly known as Cape Honeysuckle, is a fast-growing, scrambling shrub renowned for its vibrant, trumpet-shaped orange to red flowers that bloom in clusters for much of the year. Its dense, bright green foliage makes it an excellent choice for covering walls, pergolas, or slopes, adding an exotic and highly decorative touch to any sunny garden or terrace.
Native range
South Africa
Care tips
It requires full sun exposure for abundant flowering and vigorous growth. Watering should be regular during warm months, allowing the substrate to dry slightly between waterings, and reduced in winter. It prefers well-drained soils, rich in organic matter. A common mistake is not pruning it, which can lead to unruly growth; prune annually in late winter to maintain its shape and encourage flowering.
How to save a dying Cape honeysuckle
- Warning signs
- Yellow or dropping leaves, no blooms, soft stems.
- First aid
- Check drainage and watering. Provide full sun if in shade.
- What kills it
- Overwatering or lack of light. Does not tolerate hard frosts.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes! It's resilient. Prune to stimulate growth if heavily damaged.