Hi

I planted a Melanthus major in the early part of the year when it was about
2 feet high. Its gone absolutely crackers this year and now stands approx 7
feet high with 4 very large flowers.
I have 2 questions really:

1. Does this plant need pruning/cutting back? If so, when should I do it
and how far do I cut it back?

2.After a particularly hard frost last night, It is looking decidedly sorry
for itself, all the leaves are limp as are some of the flowers, Will the
frost have damaged it, or is it just sulking?

Thanks for any advice

Rick

Rick Stevens wrote:
Hi

I planted a Melanthus major in the early part of the year when it was
about 2 feet high. Its gone absolutely crackers this year and now
stands approx 7 feet high with 4 very large flowers.
I have 2 questions really:

1. Does this plant need pruning/cutting back? If so, when should I
do it and how far do I cut it back?

2.After a particularly hard frost last night, It is looking decidedly
sorry for itself, all the leaves are limp as are some of the flowers,
Will the frost have damaged it, or is it just sulking?


Frost has never done mine any harm - llike many plants it looks sdad while
frosted but comes back.

Pruning?

Your call: It will flower regularly if left unpruned but foliage will be
more erect and effective if pruned hard to the ground - at least that was my
experience. I pruned in autumn now, since i m oved the plant, i don't prune
at all.

pk

"Rick Stevens" wrote in message
...
Hi

I planted a Melanthus major in the early part of the year when it was
about
2 feet high. Its gone absolutely crackers this year and now stands approx
7
feet high with 4 very large flowers.
I have 2 questions really:

1. Does this plant need pruning/cutting back? If so, when should I do it
and how far do I cut it back?

2.After a particularly hard frost last night, It is looking decidedly
sorry
for itself, all the leaves are limp as are some of the flowers, Will the
frost have damaged it, or is it just sulking?

Thanks for any advice

Rick

My experience is that once frosted the stem has had it, but it will come
from the base next spring and give a repeat performance, in frost free areas
the stems survive the winter and flower but often look tatty and most people
seem to cut them back in late winter early spring anyway.

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

Hello,
Technically, M. major is only frost hardy, just below 0°C, so long as
wood has been summer ripened.
Suggested to protect from winter cold and wet.
THe growth affected by the frost will die back, but as this is a
pruning group 7 (down to the ground) plant, so long as its roots
servive the winter you should be OK.
Good luck

Clifford
Doncaster

Rick Stevens wrote:
Hi
I planted a Melanthus major in the early part of the year when it was about
2 feet high. Its gone absolutely crackers this year and now stands approx 7
feet high with 4 very large flowers.
I have 2 questions really:
1. Does this plant need pruning/cutting back? If so, when should I do it
and how far do I cut it back?

In early spring cut back the stem from 2 or 3 buds from the base.

2.After a particularly hard frost last night, It is looking decidedly sorry
for itself, all the leaves are limp as are some of the flowers, Will the
frost have damaged it, or is it just sulking?

You need a dry mulch in winter, braken, straw ... It's perhaps got
cold, but it's not all lost. Make sure you keep the base snug.

Rick Stevens wrote:
I planted a Melanthus major

I knew something wasn't right. It's Melianthus major ... There.