Melianthus major
Honey flower, Greater turkey bush, Touch-me-not, Honey bush
- Height × spread
- 1.2m × 1m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is one of the most beautiful foliage plants with its large, lush, sea-green leaves. Small, blood-red flowers with a honey scent are produced on a long spike in August and September. If the foliage is damaged it emits a foetid smell.
- Flower colour
- Brown, Red
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, honey-almond
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 1.2m
- Spread
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Scented garden, Mediterranean garden, Gravel garden, Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Wall cover
- Walls
- South, West facing
- Hazards
- No
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
AutumnNow
Autumn - late · Outdoors
Apply a protective mulch
Protect the crown of the plant in winter in areas that are prone to frost and cold. For short term protection a fleece can be used, otherwise fill mesh sacks with masses of straw and secure them over the plant's crown.
The 'traditional method' is to put wire or other netting over the plant, layer plenty of straw on top of this and then secure the whole with more netting.
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early · Planting
Remove suckers
Remove any suckers that have appeared round the base of the plant. They can often be pulled up, but it may be necessary to use secateurs or loppers to detach them from the parent plant.
Summer
Summer-Autumn · Planting
Prune lightly after flowering
Give the plant a light haircut, generally tidying it up and removing any shoots that are wayward or damaged in any way. Dead flowers can be cut off if this is practical - the shrub may have too many, or they may be hard to reach.