Tecomaria capensis, the Cape honeysuckle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Bignoniaceae, native to southern Africa. Despite its common name, it is not closely related to the true honeysuckle.
It is cultivated in other areas of the world, such as in South-east Asia, the South of France, Hawaii, Florida, and California.
Cape honeysuckle thrives in heat, requires full sun exposure, and can tolerate some drought and hot wind, but it is not "hardy", in that it will not tolerate temperatures below 40 F. ( 5 C )
Acquired: June 2024 - Home & Garden Center - $12.95
This is what he looked like when I brought him home (photo to right); he hardly noticed fairly extensive foliage & structural pruning(below).
The transition to a training pot, of course, meant root pruning; this is the plant that I first removed the "tap root". (adult plants feed through "feeder" roots)
These photos show his progression over several months, as he went from nursery "can" to training pot to where he is now, meaning that he has pretty much assumed the form & shape that he will have for the rest of his life..
Offset in the pot, instead of being centered & with a slight lean, he is alive, growing, hardy & is ready to be re-potted this fall. I think he's ready to go into a Bonsai-style pot, instead of back into the training pot, but we'll see. A plant like this is a joy to work with..makes up for the difficult ones.
Dec. 2025
Over the last several months, I've done little to, or for this tree, except for food, water, sun & "regular haircuts"' because of the rapid growth of his foliage. He has not been re-potted, as yet, but I have refreshed the potting mix & this mix seems more than adequate, for now, but he should be "next in-line" for a permanent home.
Meanwhile, I am experimenting with "top dressing" & the Honeysuckle volunteered to participate..this is a work-in-progress.
Jan 18, 2026
The canopy on the Cape Honeysuckle is finally filling-in & assuming a rounded shape. I had previously experimented with a "cloud" prune, and also mini-canopy's on each branch end, but I think the more mature full-leaf canopy is more attractive on this little tree.
The only plan I have for this tree, right now, is to get him re-potted, possibly into a more permanent home than the tray he's in. However, as you can see, I've co-opted the growing mix surface for the time being, but not for much longer.
Feb 22
Growth for growth's sake is pointless..and Einstein reportedly said that repeating the same action over & over & expecting a different outcome is madness...and that is the point I have reached with the Honeysuckle.
One of the older specimens in the collection, he has endured pruning, root reduction, styling, & at least 3 re-pots in my possession and for the last few months, he has served as a test bed for 'live' top dressing.
But the truth of the matter is that the only reason this tree is here is availability..he was available when I needed something to work on.
He has never had good "bones".. structure..mostly a single trunk, broom style display & a rogue secondary branch that goes nowhere, does not enhance nor induce movement...but, the trunk is weathered & "old" looking & has the closest thing to nebari of any of my little trees (nebari is the base of the tree where the roots are partially exposed, adding to the appearance of age)
So, I have decided to re-work this plant & the first order is to grow some wood, but before anything else, the "branch to nowhere" has to go. I will remove it, but not before I see some regrowth in the main canopy..when I think there's enough new growth to support photosynthesis, I'll remove the unwanted appendage. As always, I will update this page as work progresses.
