The Honey Bush,
Melianthus major can be one of the most striking specimens in the
garden. The Honey Bush is large (up to 12 feet tall, but more often
6 feet). Melianthus major is very sculptural and has strong
contrast between the maroon flowers and the grey foliage. It can
also get away a bit if you are not looking. It runs. The
runners are not too difficult to contain but must be watched or they will
make for a much larger specimen than you might have intended. The
red flowers drip nectar and attract birds like little else. If your
goal is attracting
hummingbirds, they will stake the Honey Bush out and protect it from all
comers, occasionally including the gardener. We
have had March visits from the hooded oriole this year. That is
quite early for us. The plants are quite drought tolerant, though
that is how I prefer to contain them. I give Melianthus major a source of water
and leave a desert around them. For such a tropical looking plant
they are also surprisingly frost
tolerant. This plant went through temperatures in the low 20's this
year and likely into the mid teens in prior years. I grow them in
full sun to light shade.
High resolution images
of Melianthus major are available
