It's Tecoma time again

A little later than last year, though reliable as ever, the arbour at Rouse Hill is once again covered in the orange-red blooms of Tecoma capensis. This heritage staple flowers in mid-Autumn and can be used as a fantastic hedge when maintained. Commonly known as Cape Honeysuckle, it actually has no relation to true Honeysuckle; it is in fact in the same family (Bignoniaceae) as the Jacaranda and Pyrostegia (Flame vine). This can be seen in their similarly ‘trumpet’ shaped flowers.

Here at Rouse Hill the plants always seem happy and healthy with little intervention from the Gardens team, which demonstrates their hardiness considering the harsh conditions and sometimes lack of water at Rouse Hill. Over time, these scrambling shrubs have almost turned into small trees, growing a lot taller than any label on a Tecoma plant would usually estimate. The blooms this year and last year seemed to follow on from heavy rainfall; I’m not sure if this is standard for this plant or just coincidence.