It grows to 2–3 m tall by 1–3 m wide, with pinnate blue-green leaves 30–50 cm long, which have a distinctive, unpleasant odour. Dark red, nectar-laden flower spikes, 30–80 cm 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". 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.
This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme,
and also part of the Friday Greens meme.
I am surprised this plant is cultivated in gardens since the flowers smell bad, and the plant is poisonous. It must be lovely to look at, but care must be taken working with poisonous plants.
ReplyDeleteSo nice red blooms; and never seen before this kind of shrub! for sure is not native in here; though, perhaps in botanical gardens it can be found. interesting infos and lovely to learn something new!
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