Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Cape Honeysuckle Espalier
Cape Honeysuckle Espalier is cape honeysuckle already trained flat on a trellis, so it covers a wall or fence as a neat panel instead of a sprawling shrub. Its shiny dark green leaves stay on all year, and clusters of red-orange trumpet flowers open from late summer into winter. Hummingbirds come for the nectar. In the Valley it is happiest on an east or north wall.
Best for: a flat evergreen panel on an east or north wall, a narrow bed beside a patio or entry, and red-orange flowers for hummingbirds through fall and winter.
In the low desert it does best on an east or north wall, or anywhere with afternoon shade. Trained flat, it puts shiny green leaves and orange-red flowers right on that wall.
As a free shrub it can spread 4 to 10 feet wide. Trained as an espalier it stays flat on its trellis, so it fits a narrow bed by a walk, patio or front entry.
Flowers come in clusters at the branch tips from late summer into winter, heaviest in fall. Hummingbirds flock to them, so put it where you can watch from a window.
A sunny south or west wall without afternoon shade is hard on it in the low desert. Frost in the mid 20s damages leaves and branches, though it survives colder and regrows.
- Tighter run along a wall5 ft apart
- Standard run along a wall or fence8 ft apart
Tie the stout stems to the trellis or wires as they grow, using soft tape so they are not choked. Keep the trellis a few inches off the wall for air and pruning room.
Prune in early spring to cut off frozen growth and keep the flat shape. Remove shoots that grow straight out from the wall or past the frame.
Plant it on an east or north wall, or anywhere with afternoon shade. A sunny south or west wall without shade is hard on it in summer.
Water new plants every few days, then stretch it out over about two months. Once rooted, water every 1 to 2 weeks in summer and less often in winter.
Frost can knock it back, but it usually regrows from the roots in spring.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
What is a cape honeysuckle espalier?
It is cape honeysuckle trained to grow flat on a trellis against a wall or fence. You keep the flat shape by tying new stems to the frame and trimming shoots that grow out from the wall.
Does cape honeysuckle climb on its own?
No. It is a shrubby plant with stout stems and no tendrils, so the stems must be tied to the trellis or wires as they grow. Use soft tape or plastic-covered ties so the stems are not choked.
Which wall should I plant it on?
An east or north wall is the best choice in the low desert. A sunny south or west wall without afternoon shade is hard on it in summer.
When does it bloom?
Clusters of red-orange trumpet flowers open from late summer into early winter, heaviest in fall. In a mild winter it can bloom much of the year, and a cold winter slows it down.
When should I prune my espalier?
Prune in early spring, around March or April, after frost danger. Cut off any frozen growth, tie in the stems you want, and remove shoots that stick out from the wall.
How often should I water it?
Water a new plant every few days at first, then stretch it out over about two months. Once rooted, water about every 1 to 2 weeks in summer and less often in winter.
How cold hardy is it?
Leaves and branches take frost damage in the mid 20s °F, but the plant survives colder and regrows. Wait until early spring to cut off frozen stems.
How far apart should I plant cape honeysuckle espaliers?
About 5 to 8 feet apart along a wall or fence. Use the closer spacing to cover the wall sooner.
Does it attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds come to the red-orange flowers, so plant it where you can watch them from a window or patio.
Is cape honeysuckle evergreen?
Yes. It keeps its dark green leaves all year unless frost burns them back.
Is it messy?
No. It drops very little litter and has no thorns, so it works by an entry or patio.
Cape Honeysuckle Espalier for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Cape Honeysuckle Espalier is cape honeysuckle trained flat on a trellis for a wall or fence. Below: which wall to pick, tying and trimming, bloom season, water, frost and spacing along a wall.
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Cape honeysuckle espalier on a Phoenix wall
Set the trellis a few inches off the wall and tie the stems flat as they grow. It has no tendrils, so it will not climb without ties.
Best wall for cape honeysuckle
An east or north wall suits it in the low desert. Skip sunny south and west walls unless they get afternoon shade.
When does cape honeysuckle bloom in Arizona?
Red-orange trumpet flowers open from late summer into early winter, heaviest in fall. Mild winters keep it blooming longer.
Pruning a cape honeysuckle espalier
Prune in early spring, around March or April. Cut frozen growth and trim shoots that stick out from the wall.
Cape honeysuckle frost damage
Frost in the mid 20s °F damages leaves and branches, but it regrows. Wait until early spring to clean it up.
Espalier vs staked cape honeysuckle
Both are the same plant. The espalier comes trained flat on a trellis for a neat wall panel, while the staked plant grows upright for you to train any way you like.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.