Plant cape honeysuckle after frost, at the same depth as the pot, and leave room to scramble.
Plant after frost, at pot depth, with room to scramble
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | After the last frost, or in fall where frost is rare | Do not plant into a freeze week |
| Depth | At the same depth as the nursery pot | Do not bury the stem deeper than it sat in the pot |
| Spacing | Several feet for a shrub; more if you let it run as a vine | Do not jam it against a foundation |
| Support | A trellis or wires if you want a vine | Do not expect it to cling with tendrils |
Set cape honeysuckle when nights stay above a freeze. In a frost-free heat, fall is the easier window because the roots have three seasons before the next hard summer. [1] Leave several feet for a shrub, and more if you let it scramble; unpruned plants want a wide berth. [2] Plant more than one in a row if you want a hedge, and set a trellis at planting if the job is a vine. [3]
When do I plant cape honeysuckle?
After the last frost. In a frost-free heat, fall is the easier window. Do not plant into a freeze week.
How far apart do I plant it?
Leave several feet for a shrub, and more if you let it run as a vine. Do not jam it against a foundation.
How to plant cape honeysuckle
- Dig a hole no deeper than the root ball and about three times as wide.
- Slide the plant out of the pot and set it so the mix sits at the same level as the surrounding soil.
- Backfill with the soil you dug. Do not pack a wet, rich mound over the crown.
- Water in so the hole settles, then mulch the soil and keep the mulch off the stems.
- Tie a vine to a trellis or wires at planting. The stems do not cling on their own.
What fails at planting
A hole that stays wet after rain rots the roots. A freeze week on a new plant kills the top. Crowding it against a wall leaves no room for the scramble. Florida extension does not recommend planting it, because the plant can spread. [4] If that is your site, choose a different shrub.
Plant after frost, set the mix at pot depth, and leave room for the scramble.
FAQ
Can I plant it in summer heat?
Yes, if you can water until the roots take. Fall is still the easier window where frost is rare, and after frost is the safer window where winters freeze.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Southwest Gardener -
https://swgardener.com/cape-honeysuckle/ - [2] North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/tecomaria-capensis/ - [3] UCCE Master Gardeners of San Luis Obispo County -
https://ucanr.edu/blog/uc-master-gardeners-diggin-it-slo/article/cape-honeysuckle - [4] University of Florida IFAS Assessment -
https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/tecomaria-capensis/
This note is part of Tecomaria Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors