Melianthus major - seeds

Melianthus major, also known as the giant honey flower, is an extraordinary plant with a remarkable architectural shape. It brings a touch of exoticism to the garden. This shrub can form an imposing mass resembling a giant fern, composed of large evergreen and bristly, green-blue leaves, divided into broad-toothed leaflets. In late spring, it displays brown-red inflorescences in spikes, with a honey-like fragrance, highly attractive to bees and overflowing with nectar. This plant loves the sun, tolerates summer drought well, and is quite hardy once established.

Melianthus major is a plant from the melianthus family, native to South Africa. It is a large but not very hardy perennial that forms highly ornamental specimens in the garden. Within a few months, it can grow into a sprawling shrub about 2m (7ft) in all directions. Its juvenile foliage is grey-silver and unfolds into lush, green-blue 'fronds' divided into toothed leaflets. They emit a fragrance of peanut butter or cocoa when crushed, filling the surrounding area on warm days. From May to July, large inflorescences covered in tubular flowers appear, opening in terminal spikes. These flowers are brown-red and stand out for their highly honey-scented and nectar-rich nature. If the plant appears wet or sticky at times, it is due to the honey-scented nectar flowing from its flowers. The flowers are followed by the formation of parchment-like pods containing the seeds.

Melianthus major can be used to create magnificent exotic settings in the background of flower beds, or even in large pots on the terrace. It is a shrub that should be showcased: it shines best when planted in isolation, as it offers a dazzling spectacle on its own. It can be paired with grey or silver foliage by planting a carpet of senecio vira-vira at its base, and with blue or mauve blooms from ceratostigmas (plumbaginoides, griffitii). Its fast growth compensates for its low hardiness (mature plants are destroyed at -8°C (17.6°F)). This plant will easily fit in southern, dry, or coastal gardens.