Honeysuckle Cape

Cape Honeysuckle is a fast-growing tropical flowering shrub known for its clusters of bright orange, trumpet-shaped flowers and green foliage. Its long, spreading branches can be maintained as a flowering hedge or trained along fences and trellises. In Southwest Florida, it is commonly used for flowering privacy screens, tropical garden borders, and hummingbird gardens.​

Botanically known as Tecoma capensis, this plant typically grows 6–10 feet tall and 6–10 feet wide when maintained as a shrub. Its long, arching branches can extend 15–20 feet or more when trained along a support. Regular pruning helps control its height and spreading growth.​

​This shrub grows best in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. Locations receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight generally support stronger flowering. Cape Honeysuckle adapts to Southwest Florida's sandy soils and tolerates summer heat.​

​For flowering hedges, space Cape Honeysuckle approximately 4–6 feet apart, depending on the starting plant size and desired coverage. Its fast-growing branches help fill gaps between plants. When grown along fences or trellises, provide sturdy support and enough room for branches to spread.​

​Newly planted Cape Honeysuckle needs regular watering while its roots establish. Mature plants tolerate short dry periods but benefit from supplemental irrigation during extended drought. Avoid locations where water remains standing after heavy rainfall.​

​This plant produces clusters of orange, tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and other nectar-feeding wildlife. Flowering can occur repeatedly throughout warm weather, with the strongest blooming generally developing in sunny locations.​

​Cape Honeysuckle grows quickly and requires regular pruning to maintain its shape. It does not attach itself to structures, so branches must be trained and secured when grown vertically. The plant can also spread through rooting stems and suckers, making growth management important near neighboring landscape beds.​

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Why You'll Love It​

Attracts Hummingbirds: Produces nectar-rich orange tubular flowers that provide a food source for visiting hummingbirds.​

Fast-Growing Flowering Coverage: Develops long, branching stems that help fill open spaces along fences, property borders, and larger landscape beds.​

Hedge or Trellis Growth: Can be maintained as a freestanding flowering shrub or trained along a sturdy support for vertical coverage.​

Extended Flowering Season: Produces repeated clusters of bright orange flowers during warm weather, providing color beyond a single blooming period.​

Sun Requirements: Grows in full sun to partial shade, with at least six hours of direct sunlight generally supporting stronger flowering.​

Water Needs: Requires regular watering during establishment and supplemental irrigation during extended dry periods once mature.​

Mature Size: Approximately 6–10 feet tall and 6–10 feet wide as a shrub. Trained branches may extend 15–20 feet or more.​

Best Uses: Flowering privacy hedges, fence-line plantings, garden trellises, hummingbird gardens, large tropical borders, and wall-side landscape beds.​