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Melianthus major

AndrewR

By Andrewr


Melianthus major (Melianthus major)

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



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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

 

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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