Re: Melianthus major
Liz Runciman wrote:
>
> This plant pops up here in Adelaide at random - I
> presume it must self-seed. I found one growing at
> the foot of a bougainvillea which is on a north-
> facing wall, and wondered where it had come from.
> A few days later I spotted one in a neighbour's
> garden while walking the dogs and thought 'Aha!'.
> It would seem therefore to need very little in the
> way of pampering if you live in a climate like mine,
> which means hot dry summers ( high 20s C) cool winters
> (min 5C) with rain. My husband has hacked at it
> thinking it was a weed (which I suppose it is!)
> with no ill effect. By the way the leaves smell
> horrible if you crush them in your hand.
>
Melianthus is equally happy in my part of NZ, with a temp range from
approx 26C to around -3C and dry around midsummer. It self-sows readily
and appears to be cast-iron hardy and definitely doesn't need any
fussing. Although not native, it is a food source for our local
nectar-eating birds.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata,
New Zealand (astride the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
