Re: Melianthus major
- Subject: Re: Melianthus major
- From: d* f*
- Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 00:24:36 -0800 (PST)
> Nan Sterman wrote:
>
> > Hello David and Jan,
> >
> > Since you two are the most excellent of medit
> plant gurus, I would
> > like to ask a question of you both. Do I need to
> cut back Melianthus
> > major? If so, when and how much?
Jan hit on most of the key points in favor, and gave
exactly the same advice that I would have proffered.
Nan, how do you prune it? My only additional comments
would be that it often looks more lush if grown with a
northern exposure and/or some shade as I have used it.
It often seems very prone to white fly if grown in
hotter/drier situations, so I don't use it in such
situations. I tend to do major thinning of this when I
can get to it or when it is actively growing or being
attacked by white fly. Removing all the old foliage
and opening up the massive leggy stems to more air and
sun seems to be enough to keep insects in check. It is
very well adapted to low water in fairly shady/wind
protected spots, but it still looks better with some
irrigation, or it will tend to go deciduous on you
with prolonged drought stress.
Jan is right about it being a great bluish foliaged
tropical accent, and our cool wet winters don't faze
it. In fact, it seems to grow better in cooler months
than hotter. It is much more drought tolerant than
things like Gunnera, and equally attractive against a
plain stucco wall and backlit. If left to its own
devices, it tends to be a sprawling very large shrub
to 8~10 feet tall by 10~15 feet across, and forms
sizeable clumps in a 2/3 year period. I am not
particularly fond of the smell of the foliage,
although some say it reminds them of peanut butter.
It seems well adapted here, and often sets viable
seed, and the flowers are pretty cool in their own
right.
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