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ShrubsClimber Wall ShrubConservatory Greenhouse

Tecoma capensis
  • RHS AGM

Cape honeysuckle

T. capensis is an evergreen shrub with self-clinging scrambling stems to 3m or more, with dark green, pinnate leaflets and clusters of bright orange-red flowers with slender curved tubes to 5cm in length, in late summer

Other common names
West Indian honeysuckle
Synonyms
Tecomaria capensis
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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
1.5–2.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Orange Red Green
Autumn Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H1C
Botanical details
Family
Bignoniaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Climbing
Genus

Tecoma can be evergreen shrubs, trees or climbers, with pinnately divided leaves and terminal racemes of funnel or trumpet-shaped flowers

Name status

Correct

Plant range
S Africa, Swaziland

How to grow

Cultivation

Worth trying in mild gardens if you have a sunny, sheltered wall and a fertile, well-drained soil. Otherwise, grow in a container and overwinter indoors

Propagation

Propagate by seed, layering or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wall side borders
Pruning

Pruning group 8 in early spring, plants grown under glass may need overcrowded stems thinning out

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility

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