Close-up of the leaves of Melianthus major, at the Secret Gardens of Sandwich, Kent.

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Melianthus major (giant honey flower or Kruidjie-roer-my-nie) is a species of flowering plant in the family Melianthaceae. It is an evergreen suckering shrub, endemic to South Africa and naturalised in India, Australia and New Zealand.[1][2] It grows to 2–3 m (7–10 ft) tall by 1–3 m (3–10 ft) wide, with pinnate blue-green leaves 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long, which have a distinctive odour. Dark red, nectar-laden flower spikes, 30–80 cm (12–31 in) in length, appear in spring, followed by green pods.[1][3] All parts of the plants are poisonous.[2] The Latin binomial Melianthus major literally means "large honey flower".[4] In cultivation this plant requires a sheltered location and may also need a protective winter mulch in temperate regions. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit

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Size: 3744px × 4651px
Location: The Secret Gardens of Sandwich, The Salutation, Knightrider Street, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9EW
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -toothed, close-, flower, giant, green, honey, leaves, major, melianthus, nature, plant, symetry