Melianthus major
By Andrewr
23 Nov, 2007
5 likes
If you read the books, this plant should not be thriving; it is on a heavy soil facing north! Planted in 1997, it gets a dry mulch of the roots every autumn but the top growth left on until new shoots come through, usually in the second half of March. The old stems are then cut out and the new growth reaches six feet in the course of the season. A wonderful foliage plant.
I have seen this flowering in South Africa - the flowers are small and maroon and no great shakes. If the top growth comes through a winter, it will flower but they look so tatty by spring I always cut them out
Comments on this photo
Definitely the best foliage shrub EVER. To the right is a deciduous azalea taking on its autumn tints in the leaves
25 Sep, 2009
Top of the wish list then! Thanks for your endorsement.
26 Sep, 2009
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Melianthus Major
£15.00 at Burncoose -
Melianthus Major
£10.99 at Best 4 Plants -
Melianthus Major (Honey Bush)
£12.99 at Crocus
Do you still think this is the best foliage plant in your garden? High praise! My friend MB told me they grow quite a few in Fishkill, NY Cabot Lodge's gardens & leaves smell like peanut butter. I brushed one last week @ a nursery & I agree. What purple leafed shrub have you got hiding to right? Very statuesque.
25 Sep, 2009