Melianthus major 'Purple Haze'

RHS Plant Profile

great honey flower 'Purple Haze'

RHS

Herbaceous Perennial Shrubs

An evergreen subshrub that is often grown as an herbaceous perennial in colder areas. This cultivar grows to around 1.2m high with glaucous and purple-tinged foliage that is divided into deeply-toothed, oblong leaflets. Following a hot summer, spikes of deep red-brown, tubular flowers may appear

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Francoaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Melianthus are evergreen shrubs, often grown as herbaceous perennials, with handsome pinnate leaves and small, tubular flowers in narrow, erect racemes
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Shelter from cold, drying winds and provide a dry mulch in winter to protect from excessive winter wet. Alternatively, grow in a container and keep outside over the summer and bring under glass in late autumn

Propagation

Propagate by basal softwood cuttings in spring or propagate by division in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Patio and container plants
Coastal
City and courtyard gardens
Wall side borders
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 7 or pruning group 8

Pests

May be susceptible to red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly when grown under glass

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)