Is Melianthus major poisonous?

Is Melianthus major poisonous? Melianthus major has no toxic effects reported.

Is Melianthus major poisonous to dogs?

The entire plant is toxic, especially the root. It contains toxic bufadienolides (cardiac glycosides) that produce, in humans and animals, increased salivation, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, cyanosis of the mucous membranes, rapid weak pulse and extreme exhaustion.

Is Melianthus fast growing?

Melianthus major, the Honey Flower or Great Honey Bush, is a fast-growing evergreen shrub from South Africa with glaucous-green pinnate foliage that is deeply divided and combed at the margins giving it a very exotic appearance. It creates a many-branched medium-height shrub and often suckers vigourously from the base.

How do you prune a Melianthus major?

Although it is a shrub, this plant is best treated as a perennial and cut down to within two or three buds from the base in early spring. It will shoot back from the base. Protect with a dry winter mulch of straw or bracken, especially in cold winters.

Is Melianthus major Evergreen?

This shrub is semi-evergreen, so it can lose some of its leaves in winter. Although it is a shrub, this plant is best treated as a perennial and cut down to within two or three buds from the base in early spring. It will shoot back from the base.

How big does Melianthus major grow?

It is grown firstly because of its unusual architectural appearance. The foliage is pinnate and the 12in leaves a spectacular grey-green or blue green. This branching and suckering plant will grow in time up to 10ft although 4-6ft is perhaps more normal.

Is Melianthus Hardy?

Growing and Caring for Melianthus You can grow it as a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10, or an annual in cooler regions. For efficient honeybush cultivation, plant the shrubs in full sun or partial shade.

How do you plant a Melianthus major?

This plant can be propagated from seed or by herbaceous basal cutting in early spring or softwood cuttings taken in spring or summer. Sow seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Fresh seed germinates in 3-4 weeks. Keep moist and barely covered with soil, as light enhances germination.

How do you take care of a Melianthus major?

Growing and Caring for Melianthus For efficient honeybush cultivation, plant the shrubs in full sun or partial shade. Make sure the soil is moist and fertile for best results, although this resilient plant won’t die in lean, dry soil. Offer protection from strong winds, though, which can damage the plants.

Is Melianthus major drought tolerant?

Melianthus major is an attractive foliage plant suitable for areas with permanent planting. Melianthus major harmonises well with spiky drought tolerant stuff along with Oleander, Olive trees, Gazania etc. In the British climate it likes as much sun as possible in a well draining soil.

Is Melianthus major frost hardy?

Melianthus major is an attractive foliage plant suitable for areas with permanent planting. In harsher climates with frequent frosts where temperatures fall regularly below -4°c treat the plant as a perennial. If well mulched the plant will regenerate from the roots even after quite severe frosts.

What kind of flower does Melianthus major have?

Dark red, nectar-laden flower spikes, 30–80 cm (12–31 in) in length, appear in spring, followed by green pods. All parts of the plants are poisonous. The Latin binomial Melianthus major literally means “large honey flower”. The plant is also sometimes called honeybush ( along with many other plants).

How tall and wide does a Melianthus tree get?

Evergreen perennial shrub with a height and spread of around 3m (10′). It has lush, blue-grey, deeply divided foliage with serrated edges. Reddish-brown tubular flowers appear above the leaves in spring and summer, followed by pale green pods containing black seeds. Melianthus grows in a wide range of climates.

Where does the honey flower from Melianthus come from?

Melianthus major is a perennial shrub with fascinating foliage. The plant with common names such as Honeybush, cape honey flower, touch-me-not or ‘Antonow’s Blue’ is native to South-western Africa. It is easy to find this plant or to grow its seeds because it is far from rare.

How much does a pot of Melianthus cost?

Melianthus is easily propagated from seed or cuttings. Melianthus major is available in nurseries from time to time and costs around $16 for 200mm (8″) pot. The following nurseries have it in stock now: