(aka: Tecoma capensis) Tecomaria capensis hails from the South African Cape (east and west) into Natal, but according to all the books, should not be winter hardy for us. Thank goodness we keep our plants illiterate. Despite being a giant clambering evergreen shrub in warmer climates, where it remains woody, Tecomaria capensis is a well-behaved, very drought tolerant deciduous perennial for us, surviving our single digit winter temperatures for at least a decade. Our oldest plants are now 6' tall x 7' wide, composed of upright and arching stems, clothed with campsis-like glossy green foliage, and adorned, starting for us in September with terminal spikes of screaming orange flowers...up to 20 flowers per spike. Migrating hummingbirds will be sure to stop by for a visit when yours are in flower...as well as bees and butterflies.
