Cape Honeysuckle - Tecoma Capensis - Flowering Plant

🌞 Why This South African Beauty Loves UAE Gardens

✔ Drought-defying – Survives weeks without water
✔ Salt-tolerant – Perfect for coastal areas like Palm Jumeirah
✔ Versatile forms – Train as shrub, hedge, or climber
✔ Year-round color – Peaks in winter but blooms intermittently all year
✔ Wildlife hero – Attracts sunbirds and butterflies

📏 Growth & Floral Display

• Mature size: 2-3m tall × 2m wide (prune to control)
• Flowers: 5cm orange trumpets in dense clusters
• Bloom seasons:
  • Major flush: Oct-Feb
  • Sporadic blooms: March-Sept
• Special features:
  • Evergreen in UAE winters
  • Tiny thorns on stems
  • Fast growth (1m/year)

📍 Strategic Placement

• Full sun: 6+ hours for maximum blooms
• Perfect for:
  • Highway medians
  • Poolside privacy screens
  • Balcony windbreaks
  • Sloping gardens (erosion control)

💧 Watering Smart

• New plants: Daily for 2 weeks
• Established: Every 10 days in summer, monthly in winter
• Pro tip: Wilting leaves signal thirst

✂️ Pruning & Training

• Hedge: Shear lightly after flowering
• Climber: Train on trellises with garden ties
• Renewal: Hard prune to 50cm every 3 years