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Melianthus major

Also Known As

Honey Bush
Honey Flower
South African Honey Bush

Plant type

shrub, perennial

size

H: 4'-6'
W: 3'-6'

planting zones

8b-11

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Melianthus major plant details

A must-have plant for foliage lovers. Big, bold, and dramatic. Chalky blue leaves are sharply serrated, as though cut with pinking shears. Dazzling in the rain when beads of water glisten and shimmer. Sweetly fragrant leaves are famously peanut-butter-scented when touched. In climates that freeze in winter, it may die back to the ground, and could be lost entirely in especially harsh winters. In our unprotected spot in the Pacific Northwest, we keep it going for several years at a time before a bad winter takes it and we replace it. Still, it's worth growing as an annual, if it comes to that, as it grows quickly. It will continue growing and remain evergreen in mild winters. Not fussy, but for maximum growth, it will thrive with in a sunny spot with rich soil and plenty of moisture. Mulch will improve its odds of survival in harsh winters. In mild climates such as the California Bay Area, some people prefer to grow it in leaner soil with less frequent watering to keep it from reaching it's max size. Where it doesn't die back, it will produce spikes of maroon flowers in late winter/early spring.

Melianthus major is a broadleaf semi-evergreen perennial shrub with blue foliage. In spring and winter burgundy flowers emerge. Features glaucous texture. Grows well with sun - dappled shade and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something seaside / salt tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Melianthus major

Plant type: perennial shrub
Plant family: francoaceae
Foliage: semi-evergreen blue
Mature size: 3 FT - 6 FT - wide, 4 FT - 6 FT - tall
Flowers: burgundy blooms in spring and winter
Uses: container plant, foliage plant, fragrant foliage, pinnate leaves, serrated leaves, showy, tropical-looking

GROWING CONDITIONS for Melianthus major

USDA Zones: 8b - 11
Sun exposure: sun - dappled shade
Watering frequency: occasional - low
Resistant to: deer, seaside / salt
Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Melianthus major is an intriguing plant with beautiful rippled and dissected pinnate, powdery blue foliage on stems between three and six feet high. It is shy to flower in our climate though I have seen the intriguing red spikes on a few occasions in Vancouver and Victoria. The most interesting aspect of this plant is the fragrance of the foliage which is very close to that of peanut butter. Plant with chocolate cosmos, Cosmos atrosanguineus, to turn your border into a peanut butter cup!

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

If I could have only ONE plant, this would have to be it! Large, GORGEOUS powder blue, serrated leaves that hold water droplets like sparkling diamonds – Huge burgundy flower spikes after a warm winter… A hardy 'tropical' foliage beauty'! Give it 6'x6' – sun to Lt. Shade and decent soil…most soils – large pots too – Root hardy to zero

By: Secret Garden Growers

A semi-evergreen, suckering, South African shrub that is possibly the most dramatic of all winter growing plants. The sturdy stems bear huge 60cm long, metallic, silvery blue leaves, each composed of up to 15 sharply toothed leaflets. In Spring, 60cm long stems, of fat, tapering, dark maroon flowers, arch out from the top of every stem, to be followed by inflated, pale green seed pods. Magnificent at the back of every border or to frame every view. A MUST HAVE! Semi-deciduous in Summer. More water, equals bigger leaves. Cut back old, less vigorous stems to ground level when new growth appears in Autumn.

By: Zephs

Striking evergreen shrub to 8' tall and wide grown primarily for its bold and highly textural foliage. Plants bear large, blue-green leaves that are coarsely serrated and extremely pungent when brushed against; one common name, Touch-me-not, gives the gardener polite warning. Tall brownish-red flowering racemes appear in summer, but in truth it is the foliage that warrants the most attention. Almost primeval in its appearance, the honey flower is best utilized in containers as a specimen, or beside pools or streams where it can call to mind what plants must have looked like "way back when". Plant in full sun or light shade in moisture-retentive, well-drained soils. Provide moderate water. Hardy to 20F. South Africa.

By: Native Sons

South African Honey Bush is grown for it's dramatic bold blue green pinnate foliage. It does bear maroon red flower spikes, but they appear in late winter through early spring, so those of us who don't have the benefit of a warm greenhouse will miss them. It is root hardy through zones 8, and can reach 6' if given a long enough growing season.

By: Avant Gardens

Bold foliage perennial for the border, this form from the garden of plantswoman Ginny Hunt, with feathery and toothed, blue-green leaves and huge combs of maroon flowers dripping nectar in summer. Honey bush indeed. To 6' tall and wide, possibly taller. May be deciduous in a rough winter, but comes back. Best in sun and well-drained soil with occasional summer moisture. Frost hardy in USDA zone 8.

By: Cistus Nursery

An interesting range of subtle shades of blue-green on these plants grown from South African seed. Some are comparable, if not better than 'Antonow's Blue' and all are going to let the neighbors know you are a plant geek. Great leaves, spikes of peculiar flowers and inflated seed pods.

By: Far Reaches Farm

This impressive South African shrub is best known for its large, soft, pinnately compound, serrated, blue or greenish leaves; which on the second year's growth produces long, terminal upright flower stalks. This plant has gained a considerable following in the past few years, but there is some confusion surrounding it. To start with, some people think it smells like peanut butter, but I think of the fragrance as distinct and difficult to categorize. There has also been debate about its true hardiness and how to grow it. It thrives in cool weather because in the wild it grows through the winter, going dormant in the summer. However, it has to reverse its growth pattern in our climate, meaning that it will grow best in a cool, moist, sunny or partly shaded position with lots of summer water and rich soil in the Northwest. It is best suited to sheltered gardens where it can reach a large size before severe cold comes along: unchecked by frost, it may grow to 20' or larger, with greater spread! Below about 25 °F it may be heavily damaged, and though it almost always regrows at least once, it will peter out eventually if subjected to such temperatures annually. On the plus side, it can reach an impressive size quickly and can be used as an annual border plant. It has multiple uses in cultivation: if you can grow Echium pininana, try it as a shrub; if not, it is worth finding another way to grow it!

By: The Desert Northwest

Quite the dramatic & tropical looking accent plant, “Honey Bush” is prized for its large & luxuriant, serrated, blue-grey leaves. The 1’ tall, upright, chocolate brown flower spikes are fascinating & appear in late Winter & early Spring. A quick grower, this South African native can shoot up to 10’ tall in rich soil & can get rather unruly in the garden. If your soil is poor, it will stay at about 5’ - 6’ tall or you can cut the stems back in early Spring before new growth begins. Melianthus major is evergreen & hardy down to 23 °F. The foliage is scented of hazelnut & is long lasting in arrangements.

By: Annie's Annuals & Perennials

Melianthus major plant details

CHARACTERISTICS OF Melianthus major

GROWING CONDITIONS for Melianthus major

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

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