Cape Honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis)

Cape Honeysuckle Plant Features

We love cape honeysuckle! This tropical flowering shrub (which is often grown as a container-garden plant in the North) flowers on and off all year long, producing flamboyant clusters of bold red, orange, or yellow flowers that are irresistible to hummingbirds. Happily, cape honeysuckle is more than just a pretty face: It's also a cinch to grow, so you can enjoy its charms without feeling like you're always working to keep it up.  

Though it's only hardy outdoors to Zone 10, cape honeysuckle is a fast grower and profuse bloomer, making it an excellent choice for container gardens and annual garden beds and borders in cold-winter climates. Outdoors in the tropics, it can grow about 6 feet tall, but in the North, it usually stays in the 3- to 4-foot-tall range. It grows well on its own, but also pairs beautifully with other tropicals.

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Cape Honeysuckle Growing Instructions

Grow cape honeysuckle in full sun. Once established, it's drought tolerant, but cape honeysuckle grows best when it gets regular water -- especially in container gardens. It's best to water it when the top inch or so of the soil is dry.

Fertilize cape honeysuckle in spring and summer. Use any garden fertilizer and follow the directions on the packaging.

You can prune cape honeysuckle at any time; it responds well to light pruning.

Note: Cape honeysuckle is not intended for human or animal consumption; leave that to the birds and butterflies!

  • Water

    Moist

  • Light

    Outside: Sun

  • Colors

    Orange

    Red

    Yellow

  • Special Features

    Attracts butterflies

    Attracts hummingbirds

    Deer/rabbit resistant

    Super-easy to grow

Complement your Cape Honeysuckle

Plumbago
Accent cape honeysuckle's bright flowers with the soft, sky-blue ones of plumbago.

Esperanza
Esperanza, a close relative of cape honeysuckle, has a similar look, making it a perfect accent plant.

Canna
Contrast cape honeysuckle's flowers by growing it with rich, purple-leafed cannas.