A rambling shrub to 2 m ormore, with orange-red to scarlet flowers 5 cm long, native of tropicaland S Africa, now widely grown as an ornamental in many tropical andsubtropical countries. There are some cultivars, of which c.var. aureahas yellow flowers.The plant lends itself to training against a wall orover a pergola. The long trailing stems are easily rooted. It is grownin southern U.S.A. as a hedge plant (1).In S Africa the plant isreadily browsed by stock. In Transvaal powdered bark is taken in casesof fever and pneumonia, and is said to relieve pain and to inducesleep. The bark is also taken for abdominal troubles, and the powder isrubbed onto bleeding gums. A leaf-decoction is taken for diarrhoea andenteritis. Leaves and flowers contain sterols, but not other activeprinciples, and the plant has given negative antibiotic tests.References

• 1. Bates, 1976: 1099. 2. Watt & Breyer-Brandwijk, 1962: 144, as Tecomaria capensis Spach.