Light
Cape honeysuckle is a tropical plant that grows well in full sun or partial shade.
In its native habitat, cape honeysuckle is often found growing in dappled light in the forest understory.
In extremely hot climates, it might actually do better in partial shade locations.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
The denser the shade, however, the less vigorous the blooming.
It also succeeds in salty locations like coastal regions.
After a year of regular watering, the roots should be established enough to provide drought tolerance.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Temperature and Humidity
Cape honeysuckle is a tropical plant that thrives inUSDA cold hardiness zones911.
In most cases, though, feeding is not needed for this vigorous grower.
At the beginning of spring, remove branches that have been damaged by frost.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
This plant freely producessuckers.
If you don’t want this plant to spread, remove the suckers immediately.
Propagating Cape Honeysuckle
Because cape honeysuckle produces suckers, the plant will naturally propagate itself for you.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
you’ve got the option to also propagate the plant with softwood cuttings.
It will bloom in the second year when grown from seed.
Plant them in pots with good-sized drainage holes and filled with standard potting mix.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Increase the container size by two inches each time you repotwhenever roots are evident growing out the drainage holes.
Bring potted plants indoors in colder months to protect them for the next season.
Overwintering
Within its recognized hardiness zone, cape honeysuckle requires no special treatment for the winter months.
you could rid your plant of these pests withinsecticidal soap.
What Do Cape Honeysuckle Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Even in partial shade, it should produce ample flowers.
Excessive shade, though, will reduce its blossoms.
However, you may want to consider cleaning up the spent blooms for aesthetic reasons or pruning the plant.
Deadheading Cape Honeysuckle Flowers
Cape honeysuckle is a self-cleaning plant, so deadheading is not required.
Common Problems With Cape Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle is a fairly easy-going plant.
This is especially problematic if you are trying to grow them as hedge plants.
Rampant growth is most troublesome in warm, wet climates.
Withholding water is one strategy to keep the plant under control.
Aside from merely controlling its size, frequent pruning will keep the plant dense and full.
Untended, these plants can get leggy and unattractively sparse.
Diagnosis by a professionalor at least a soil analysis might be needed.
The shape of this plant depends entirely on how you let it grow whether as a shrub or vine.
Usually, the cape honeysuckle is treated as a shrub and clipped into a box shape.
However, this plant also likes to vine, so consider it for your trellis or pergola.
To train it into a vine, guide it up a trellis or length of jute rope.
North Carolina State Extension.
