Melianthus comosus aka Tufted Honey Flower

Melianthus comosus is also called tufted honey flower. This evergreen shrub comes from southern Africa. Its range spans Namibia, South Africa and Lesotho. Kew places it in the Francoaceae family. It grows in deserts and dry shrublands. Useful Tropical Plants reports a large population across a wide range. It lists the plant as Least Concern. This status comes from the 2021 IUCN assessment.

In gardens, it grows about 3.3–4.9 feet [1–1.5 metres] tall and wide. Useful Tropical Plants gives a wider range for height: 2.3–7.9 feet [0.7–2.4 metres]. Several stems grow from a woody rootstock, or base. The stems are woody in part, hollow, and have few branches. Each leaf has five or seven leaflets with bold teeth. Bruised leaves and other parts give off a strong, bad smell. The RHS says plants reach full size in two to five years.

In spring, short groups of flowers grow below the leaves. The blooms range from pale red to orange. Each flower is about 0.05 feet [0.015 metres] long. Useful Tropical Plants says birds pollinate the flowers. This means they move pollen between blooms. The plant also forms seed capsules. Its bold leaves and bushy shape suit beds and borders. The RHS suggests gardens in courtyards and by the coast. It also suggests informal gardens and spots beside walls. Pots on patios suit it too.

Grow it in full sun, sheltered from cold, drying winds. The RHS advises moist soil that drains well. The soil should have a fair level of nutrients. Chalk, clay, loam and sand all suit it. The RHS lists acid, neutral and alkaline soils as suitable. Useful Tropical Plants favours light, rich soil that drains well. The RHS rates it H3 for mild and coastal UK sites. Use dry mulch to curb excess winter wet. Pots can stay outdoors in summer. Move them under glass in late autumn. In spring, take softwood cuttings from the plant’s base. Or divide plants in early spring.

Under glass, red spider mites and glasshouse whitefly may attack. Honey fungus poses a risk, though the RHS calls it rare. Useful Tropical Plants records no known food uses. It says South African herbalists regard the plant as toxic. Past uses focus on external care for wounds, bruises and painful joints. The plant contains saponins and tannins. These records describe use in folk medicine. They do not prove that treatment is safe or works.