IN the last article, we discussed the three Bauhinia ‘cousins’ that will add value to any garden.
This week I would like to chat about the four ‘sisters’ – sisters in that their characteristics are almost identical other than the colour of their blooms, just as any four sisters in a family will differ in personality.
What on earth am I talking about? The Cape Honeysuckle family, Tecomaria capensis, a slightly loose shrub with small, dark green leaves and tubular flowers in a variety of colours.
This genus is a real winner with humans and birds alike.
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Humans – let’s call them gardeners – enjoy the shrub because it forms a lovely informal hedge so it is ideal for planting up against boundary walls, as a screen for privacy or to hide a less than attractive feature in the garden.
Birds love them as they provide a source of nectar.
The shrub is a larval host plant for the small Zebra Blue butterfly.
Tecomaria capensis can be kept in check with regular pruning, however, I would not suggest this plant for a formal clipped hedge as it will be a bit of a hit-and-miss as to whether it bears flowers if pruned regularly.
If you are not concerned about the flowers, then it will respond well to clipping.
Left to its own devices in a sunny spot, this gorgeous shrub will grow to two metres at least by 1.5m wide, and you can prune it judiciously every now and then just to keep it in check.
If Tecomaria capensis grows in a bit of shade, it is inclined to become a scrambler, sending long branches into the closest tree as it reaches for the sun.
In a natural environment, this is perfect for wildlife as it will create a tangled mass of branches that provide protection for smaller birds.
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In a garden setting, however, I would suggest you plant it where it can be enjoyed and maintained.
Now, the real winner with this shrub is that it is available in four colours – the prettiest yellow that attracts more insects than birds, a bright orange, a red-orange and a glorious salmon hue.
You will have seen this plant lining the M13 in the vicinity of the Delcairn Shopping area in Kloof where, when it is in flower, they create an absolute picture.
This plant is readily available from garden centres and the smaller nurseries in the Upper Highway area. It also propagates easily from root stock or hard wood cuttings.
Contact the Hillcrest Conservancy chairman, George Victor, on 073 901 3902, e-mail georgevic@telkomsa.net or the website www.hillcrestconservancy.co.za or contact Lindsay Gray at info@schoolofgardendesign.com
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