Tecoma capenis (Cape Honeysuckle)

  • TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN): 0153
  • Botanical Name: Tecoma capenis
  • Common Name: Cape Honeysuckle
  • Cultivar: N/A
  • Family: Bignoniaceae
Tecoma capenis 
Photo by Matthew Gaston

  • Native To: Southern Africa

Landscaping Information

    • Plant Type: Sprawling Shrub
    • Texture: Fine, Dense
    • Form: Hedged to Upright Sprawling to Irregular
    • Height (on average, in landscape use):  4'
    • Height to Spread Ratio: 2:1 (More of an upright sprawling type)
    • Growth Rate: Fast
    • Landscape Values: Background, Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing,  Hedge, Lanai, Patio, Quick Effect, Screen, Space Division, Erosion Control
    • Outstanding Quality: Flower Color, Seasonal Color
    Tecoma capenis as a hedge 
    Photo by Matthew Gaston


    Botanical Descriptions

    • Flowers: bilaterally symmetric; green 5-toothed floral cup (calyx); 5 orange to scarlet petals (corolla); stamens and pistil protrude beyond the corolla. Arranged on a determinant inflorescence.
    Tecoma capenis flowers
    Photo by Matthew Gaston

    Tecoma capenis flowers prior to opening
    Photo by Matthew Gaston

    Tecoma capenis flowers
    Photo by Matthew Gaston

    • Fruits: Dehiscent capsule, 3"-5" long
    • Foliage Color: Young/immature: Yellow Green. Mature: Bright Medium Green to Dark Green
    • Leaflet Tip: Rounded to Obtuse
    • Foliage Base: Rounded to Obtuse
    • Stipules: N/A
    • Margins: Serrate
    • Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
    • Leaf Shape:  Elliptic 
    • Leaf Type: Once Pinnate, Odd-Pinnate, usually 7-11 Leaflets
    • Leaf Texture: Waxy, glabrous, somewhat thin, structured with prominent venation and leaf margins. 
    • Leaf Special Notes: Pinnate leaves with a good deal of texture and structure making this plant appear very fine from afar and a plant of intrigue at a close distance. The oddly pinnate leaves give a sort of sharp and upward appearance- fitting for this scrambling, rambling plant.
    Tecoma capenis younger leaves
    Photo by Matthew Gaston

    Tecoma capenis older leaves
    Photo by Matthew Gaston

    Tecoma capenis adaxial leaf surface
    Photo by Matthew Gaston

    Tecoma capenis abaxial leaf surface
    Photo by Matthew Gaston

    • Bark and Trunk: Young shoots are smooth, green, and covered in lenticels. Older stems become wooded, but still smooth. Older shoots are gently mottled light brown to gray, twiggy; periodic fissures. Lenticels present, especially noticeable when shoots are young.
    Tecoma capenis stems. Pardon the poor focusing on stems. 
    Photo by Matthew Gaston

    Horticultural Information

      • Light Preference: Full Sun
      • Light Tolerances: Semi-Sun 
      • Soil Preferences:  Acidic to Slightly Acidic, Organic, Dry (Mesic), Dry (Xeric) Well-Drained.
      • Tolerances: Acidic, Compacted Soil, Salt Air, Moderate Winds, Humidity, Regular Watering, Drought
      • Water Requirements: Moderate to Low watering. Tolerates nearly all watering conditions, but prefers the drier side of the spectrum with well drained soil.Wet roots for too long will lead to rot. Considered a xeriscape plant. 
      • Notes on Maintenance: A scrambling shrub, which sends out long shoots (almost vine-like). These long shoots that project out can be cut to maintain a clean shape or allowed to grow for a natural, yet messy appearance. Trim frequently to maintain flowering. Often trimmed into an orderly hedge, but can be allowed to scramble along a slope or trellis. A versatile plant with many applications. Not typically affected by pests or disease. Does not tolerate wet roots for too long. Drought tolerant.
      • Propagation: Cutting, Division 
      • Minimum USDA Hardiness Zone: 9a
      • Weed Risk Assessment Score (WRA): 6,  Low Risk

      Most Popular Plants

      Graptophyllum pictum (Caricature Plant)

      Image
      T ropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0002 Botanical Name: Graptophyllum pictum Common Name: Caricature Plant Cultivars: 'Igneum', 'Lurido-sanguineum', 'Tricolor'/'Waimea', 'Eldorado' Family: Acanthaceae  (Acanthus Family) Graptophyllum pictum   Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Igneum'  Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Lurido-sanguineum'  Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Eldorado'  Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Tricolor' (believed to be the same as Graptophyllum pictum 'Waimea') Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To: New Guinea Landscaping Information
      Read More»

      Bucida buceras 'Variegated' (Dwarf Variegated Geometry Tree)

      Image
      TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0083 Botanical Name: Bucida buceras 'Variegated' Common Name: Dwarf Variegated Geometry Tree, Variegated Madagascar Almond, Spiny Black Olive, Oxhorn Bucida Cultivar: 'Variegata' Family: Combretaceae Native To: Mexico, Central America, The Caribbean, and Northern South America Bucida beceras ' Variegata' growing in a Malaysian neighborhood parkway Photo by Mahmud Yussop of Laman Kambatik Plants List Landscaping Information Plant Type : Broadleaf Evergreen Tree Texture: Fine, Open Form: Upright-Narrow to Spreading, somewhat Irregular Height (on average, in landscape use): 5'-8' (As a house plant), 30'-60' (Outdoors) Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 to 2:1 Growth Rate: Fast Landscape Values: Accent, Street Tree, Color, Framing, Indoor, Lanai, Patio, Sculptural Form, Specimen, Windbreak, Erosion Control, Shade Outstanding Quality: Foliage Color, Variegation,
      Read More»

      Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii (Variegated False Eranthemum)

      Image
      T ropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0005 Botanical Name: Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii (syn. Pseuderanthemum reticulata) Common Name: Variegated False Eranthemum, El Dorado, El Dorado False Eranthemum, El Dorado Eranthemum, Yellow Veined Eranthemum Variety: carruthersii (See Additional Notes at the bottom of the page) Family: Acanthaceae Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii  Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To:   Melanesia   Landscaping Information Plant Type : Shrub Texture: Dense Form:   Upright-broad Height (on average, in landscape use):   4'- 6' Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 Growth Rate: Medium Landscape Values: Background, Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge (large one really), Mass, Screen, Space Division Outstanding Quality: Foliage Characters Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii growing tightly between a walkway and a wall.  Photo by Matthew Gaston
      Read More»

      Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia (Wax Fig)

      Image
      T ropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0016 Botanical Name: Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia Common Name: Wax Fig, Taiwan Ficus Variety: crassifolia Family: Moraceae Native To: Southern Taiwan Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia leaves. Note the bronze to bright yellow-green young leaves.  Photo by Matthew Gaston Landscaping Information Plant Type : Shrub Texture: Dense Form: Mound, Cushion Height (on average, in landscape use): 1.5' - 4' Height to Spread Ratio: 1:2 Growth Rate: Fast Landscape Values: Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge, Indoor, Lanai, Patio, Space Division, Groundcover, Specimen Outstanding Quality: Foliage and Form; often used for Bonsai  Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia  as a hedge/groundcover below a tree  Photo by Matthew Gaston Botanical Descriptions Flowers/Fruits: paired figs, sessile, 0.2"-0.4" long, glabrous, purple to black when ripe.
      Read More»

      Breynia disticha (Snow Bush)

      Image
      TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0151 Botanical Name: Breynia disticha 'Roseopicta' Common Name: Snowbush, Snow bush, Ice-Cream Bush, Calico Plant, Sweetpea Bush, Foliage Flower Shrub, Laukalakoa (Hawaiian) Cultivar: 'Roseopicta' is likely the cultivar seen in the images on this page. Family: Phyllanthaceae Breynia disticha Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To: Vanuatu and New Caledonia  Landscaping Information Plant Type : Treelet, Shrub Texture: Dense Form: Upright-broad to even Weeping/Irregular, but usually seen trimmed into a hedge Height (on average, in landscape use): 2'- 4' (can reach 10' in ideal conditions) Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 to 1:2 Growth Rate: Medium to Fast Landscape Values: Accent, Background, Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge, Mass, Quick Effect, Specimen Outstanding Quality: Foliage Color Breynia disticha between a fence and
      Read More»

      Jatropha integerrima (Peregrina)

      Image
      TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0069 Botanical Name:   Jatropha integerrima Common Name: Peregrina, Spicy Jatropha, Rose-Colored Jatropha, Fire Cracker Jatropha Cultivar: N/A Family: Euphorbiaceae Jatropha integerrima  Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To: Hispaniola and Cuba Landscaping Information:  Plant Type : Treelet Texture: Medium, Open Form:  Round Headed to Upright-broad. Can be somewhat easily trimmed into a Spreading form. Height (on average, in landscape use): 10'-20' Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 Growth Rate: Medium Landscape Values: Accent, Color, Framing, Screen, Specimen Outstanding Quality: Flower Color Jatropha integerrima  Photo by Matthew Gaston Jatropha integerrima  in Honolulu acting as a large hedge and screen. Note the staircase where the plant can be appreciated from above. Photo by Matthew Gaston Jatropha integerrima at UH Manoa trimmed into a spreading form Photo by Matthew
      Read More»