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(Melianthus elongatus)
Honey Flower (Melianthus elongatus)
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CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo by: SAplants | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 | Uploader: SAplants | Publisher: Wikipedia Commons
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Melianthus elongatus, commonly known as Honey Flower, is an evergreen shrub native to the fynbos and grasslands of South Africa, particularly thriving on hillsides. It typically grows to a height of 3-8 feet (0.9-2.4 meters) and a width of 3-12 feet (0.9-3.7 meters). The plant has a distinctive appearance with its deeply serrated, blue-green leaves that emit a peanut butter-like scent when crushed. Honey Flower produces striking, red, nectar-rich flowers during the winter and spring months, which are particularly showy and attract pollinators such as birds and bees.
Melianthus elongatus is valued for its architectural foliage and unusual flowers, making it a focal point in subtropical and Mediterranean-style gardens. It is used for border planting, as a specimen plant, or in mixed shrub borders. While it prefers full sun, it can tolerate light shade. The plant is drought-tolerant once established and can handle a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage. It is not typically prone to serious diseases or pests, but it can be sensitive to frost in colder climates. In regions where it is not hardy, it can be grown in containers and moved to a protected area during winter.CC BY-SA 4.0
Melianthus elongatus is valued for its architectural foliage and unusual flowers, making it a focal point in subtropical and Mediterranean-style gardens. It is used for border planting, as a specimen plant, or in mixed shrub borders. While it prefers full sun, it can tolerate light shade. The plant is drought-tolerant once established and can handle a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage. It is not typically prone to serious diseases or pests, but it can be sensitive to frost in colder climates. In regions where it is not hardy, it can be grown in containers and moved to a protected area during winter.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Height: 3-8 feet
- Width: 3-12 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Red
- Flowering Season: Winter, Spring
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance
Natural Habitat
Fynbos and grasslands of South Africa
Other Names
Common Names: Honey Bush, Giant Honey Flower
Scientific Names: , Melianthus minor, Melianthus elongatus, Diplerisma minus,
GBIF Accepted Name: Melianthus elongatus Wijnands