How & When to Prune Cape Honeysuckle Plant
Cape honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis) is an ornamental perennial shrub. It originated in South Africa, grows fast and has vine-like qualities. Cape honeysuckle thrives in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11. The foliage stays green year-round in the warmer climates, but is semi-deciduous in cooler areas. The large flowers bloom most of the year and range in color from yellow to orange, scarlet and salmon, depending on the variety. Cape honeysuckle can be grown as a vine, shrub or ground cover. Pruning it will keep it healthy and looking good.
- Cape honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis) is an ornamental perennial shrub.
- The large flowers bloom most of the year and range in color from yellow to orange, scarlet and salmon, depending on the variety.
Prune cape honeysuckle plants before new growth begins in mid-spring. The best time is usually late winter or early spring. Any later than that, and you risk cutting off new growth.
Snip off flowers after they are done blooming. This will improve the appearance of the cape honeysuckle plant.
Remove branches that appear woody. These are unproductive and do not have buds that will form. Snipping them off at their base will allow growth in other areas.
- Prune cape honeysuckle plants before new growth begins in mid-spring.
- Snipping them off at their base will allow growth in other areas.
Trim off unruly branches if you want the honeysuckle to form a bush-like shape. Cut right next to a bud to encourage growth along that branch and create a more rounded appearance.
Prune cape honeysuckle plants that serve as ground cover. Cut off any branches that are growing up, as opposed to spreading out. This will train the stems to stay close to the ground. Repeat the pruning regularly to keep the plant from growing too tall.
Reshape the plant if needed. Cape honeysuckle can withstand a hard pruning. If necessary, cut it down significantly after blooming to control its size and reshape it.
- Trim off unruly branches if you want the honeysuckle to form a bush-like shape.
Cape Honeysuckle
Gardeners prize cape honeysuckle for its vividly colored flowers and evergreen foliage. The slightly glossy, pinnately compound, green leaves grow as five- to seven-toothed leaflets about 2 inches long. It grows up to 12 feet tall as a round-shaped shrub or can spread or meander horizontally 25 feet or more as a vine. The cultivar determines the flower color with “Aurea” giving golden yellow flowers, “Coccinea” producing scarlet flowers and “Salmonea” bearing pink to orange flowers. It likes moist, but well-drained, clay, loamy or sandy soil with any pH. Cape honeysuckle tolerates moderate drought once established, but grows best with a deep watering once per week. Temperatures of 28 degrees Fahrenheit and below damage branches and may kill the aboveground portion of the plant. Luckily, cape honeysuckle quickly recovers when the weather warms. Cape honeysuckle is unlikely to attract pests but may be sensitive to mineral deficiencies or nutrient and mineral excesses. Common causes of deficiencies include waterlogged soil and nematodes.
- Gardeners prize cape honeysuckle for its vividly colored flowers and evergreen foliage.
- Temperatures of 28 degrees Fahrenheit and below damage branches and may kill the aboveground portion of the plant.
Tip
Keep pruning shears sharp.
Warning
Clean pruning shears with rubbing alcohol after each use.
Related Articles
References
- New Mexico State University: Pruning honeysuckle vine
- John & Jacq's Garden: Sun-loving Tecoma capensis (Cape Honeysuckle)
- Floridata: Tecomaria capensis
- University of California Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Light Up the Fall
- National Gardening Association: Tecomaria Capensis
- University of California, Davis, Integrated Pest Management: Cape honeysuckle -- Tecomaria Capensis
- North Carolina State University Department of Horticulture: Tecomaria Capensis
- University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension: Tecomaria Capensis
- University of California, Davis, Integrated Pest Management: Nutrient and Mineral Excesses
- University of California, Davis, Integrated Pest Management: Mineral Deficiencies
Tips
- Keep pruning shears sharp.
Warnings
- Clean pruning shears with rubbing alcohol after each use.
Writer Bio
Based in New York State, Kelly Shetsky started writing in 1999. She is a broadcast journalist-turned Director of Marketing and Public Relations and has experience researching, writing, producing and reporting. She writes for several websites, specializing in gardening, medical, health and fitness, entertainment and travel. Shetsky has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Marist College.
