Re: Melianthus major

Here in Wales the pruning or non-pruning of Melianthus major is rarely a long-term problem: mine survived it's first 2 winters unscathed, and grew into a 6-foot bush, but a minimum of -7C combined with very wet weather 12 months ago killed it to the ground. It has since produced new growth from the rootstock and looks all the better, and tidier, for it.

In the back garden the green-leaved M.villosus was undamaged in the same winter, and this spring produced new growths from both the rootstock and the woody branches: these latter growths produced their first ever crop of flowers this summer. The flowers could fairly be described as 'interesting' - I was looking at them one day and thinking; 'when are these flowers going to open'; then I realised that they *were* open - interesting rather than beautiful!

I had a small plant of M.comosus (all 3 plants came originally from Tim Longville, who I'm sure can give details of his sources) which was left outside in a pot - it died. In the ground it might perhaps have survived?

As far as I'm aware, there are only 2 other species - M.minor and M.pectinatus. Both are suitable candidates for real Mediterranean climates such as California, but for those of us 'pretending' to be in the Med, they are probably best grown under glass.

Einion Hughes,
Rhyl,
Wales,
UK
(zone8/9)
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