Monday, March 16, 2009

Bloom Day: A Rare Perennial Shrub, Melianthus comosus


Melianthus comosus
Planted in the early days of my California garden, tufted honey-flower, a South African shrub, boasts deeply dissected, green foliage:  The plant's intense peanut-butter aroma is not particularly pleasant.



Blooming in late-winter, tufted honey-flower produces some of the most unusual flowers in my garden. The flower spikes are eye-catching, with their bladder-like capsules, while the red-orange flowers are said to be pollinated by birds.  

Perhaps they are in a native African habitat, but I've not witnessed birds visiting these blooms.
Prominent stamens, a deeply elongated throat with dark honey guide, and delicate, reflexed sepals are features sure to attract those of us who are botanically inclined. Touch the flowers, and a residue of watery nectar - black, inky droplets - is deposited on your fingertips. Not refined plant material for flower arrangements.
In my Zone 10 micro-climate, the growth habit is tall and gangly, so I cut the plant back a couple times a year, and always remove a few of the thickest stems; cutting them close to the ground.



Gledhill (The Names of Plants) defines the species nomenclature as 'shaggy-tufted' , which I find a lively description of these oddly attractive blooms.

12 comments:

  1. Very cool plant. I think I need one, given it's so close to my own name!

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  2. I love Melianthus for the bluey green foliage and I don't really mind the peanutbutter scent... But boy, if it ever flowered for us, I'd be over the moon! (something to shoot for.) We winter it over in the greenhouse and this year it wasn't too bothered by the whitefly it's prone to...

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  3. Kris, I also grow M. major 'Purple Haze', quite a stunner in comparison to M. comosus. I'll feature it one day...... thanks for stopping by.

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  4. Looks like a great plant, and lovely photos!

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  5. What an interesting looking plant. An aroma like peanut-butter? I do like peanut butter! The shapes of the leaves look great, and I love the look of the flowers.

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  6. I'm growing the Melianthus major. Because it dies back during icky winters, (like this one) it won't flower but the texture is a real eye catcher. I pair mine with several dark pink things like dahlia and salvia. I'm sure it won't belong before the better nurseries are stocking M. cosmosus as well. Very nice.

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  7. Peanut butter aroma, that is very different!!! When you walk along one of the edges on my pond the chocolate mint under your feet brings York Peppermint Patty's to mind.

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  8. Sounds like it has some drawbacks, but what an interesting flower! Thank you for stopping by my blog, glad to discover yours!

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  9. it looks interesting, even if it doesn't smell so good;-)

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  10. That's an unusual one for sure! You can grow such excotics in CA, they'd just all die here in the mean old snow. Looking forward to more from Spain!

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  11. Beautiful! I have never heard of this before!

    -Ginger (lawchick from blotanical)

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