Tecomaria Capensis - Cape Honeysuckle

Cape honeysuckle is a fast growing, scrambling, multi-stemmed shrub which may grow up to 2-3 m high and spread more than 2.5 m. It is an evergreen plant in warm regions but loses its leaves in colder ones. It has pinnately compound, glossy leaves that have oval leaflets with blunt teeth. Flowering time for this shrub is very erratic and it often flowers all year round. Flowers are tubular in showy many-flowered heads and vary in colour from red, deep orange, yellow to salmon.

This species attracts and is pollinated by nectar-feeding birds, especially sunbirds. The flowers are also visited by honeybees and butterflies. Seeds have 2 membranous wings and are dispersed by wind.

The leaves are browsed by game and stock animals.