Melianthus major is the proper name of my honeybush, but it really deserves a more exotic moniker. This plant is endemic to South Africa and has naturalized in India, Australia, and New Zealand, and it does quite nicely here in Solano County.

 

I purchased my honeybush in the era of the Jurassic movies and it has established a home near a small patio and an old retaining wall in my front yard. Sometimes, maybe, lots of times I place my plants so I can view them while sitting in my living room or dining room windows. Today, for example, it has been raining since the early hours of the morning. In these grey overcast raining days my dogs and I like to sit near the front window and read. After my cataract surgery, I need “cheaters” to read pretty much everything.  So I read a little, push my specs up, then gaze off to rest my eyes. Over and over my eyes come to rest on my honeybush blowing around in the wind. It is no less than glorious. Later on, in late spring or summer, it will develop red voluptuous flowers that are quite otherworldly. 

 

This plant shares the drought-tolerant attributes of the others in my garden, so caring for it is quite easy. Just give it a deep watering occasionally and strip off the dead foliage, no fertilizer is necessary. Make sure it has good drainage, no soggy bottoms.