BBC Gardeners' World

Plant details

• Common Name: Honey bush
• Genus: Melianthus
• Species: major
• Skill Level: experienced
• Exposure: full sun
• Hardiness: tender
• Soil type: dry, moist, sandy, well-drained/light
• Height: 2.25m
• Spread: 2m
• Time to plant seeds: March to May

Formerly grown as a greenhouse and conservatory foliage plant, this attractive shrub is almost hardy in very mild gardens if planted in a warm sunny border and given a protective mulch in winter. Usually it is grown for ornamental bedding purposes, either as a taller highlight among flowering plants, or in large pots as a patio foliage plant. If kept as a perennial, it needs a minimum winter temperature of 4-7C (40-45F), and may be propagated by division and basal suckers, as well as summer cuttings. It is easy from seed, however, as a half-hardy annual. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).