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Greater Honeywort Purpurescens in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Cerinthe major 'Purpurescens'

 

Greater Honeywort 'Purpurescens'

Cerinthe (Honeywort) is a plant in the borage family and usually has green or silver grey-green leaves. It can be considered an annual, biennial or perennial but is generally treated as an annual. It produces tubular shaped flowers from coloured bracts. Flower colour varies depending on species and cultivar. It usually prefers to be in a sunny or partial shade position, and likes dry to moderately moist soil providing well drained, again depending on species and cultivar. Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens' (Honeywort) has silvery, pale green leaves with purple hanging bells. It gently self-seeds where planted and is attractive to pollinators. Generally treated as an annual.

Contributed by @tiggrx

 
plant Features
  • Greater Honeywort Purpurescens likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Greater Honeywort Purpurescens likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Greater Honeywort Purpurescens is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Greater Honeywort Purpurescens likes rich and free draining

    Rich and free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Greater Honeywort 'Purpurescens'

Latin name

Cerinthe major 'Purpurescens'

type

Annual

family

Boraginaceae

ph

5.5 - 8.0 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Greater Honeywort Purpurescens likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Frost

    Greater Honeywort Purpurescens is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Soil

    Greater Honeywort Purpurescens likes rich and free draining

    Rich and free draining

  • Water

    Greater Honeywort Purpurescens likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Greater Honeywort Purpurescens is 0.30meters x 0.60meters 0.30 M 0.60 M

Cerinthe major 'Purpurescens'

Cerinthe (Honeywort) is a plant in the borage family and usually has green or silver grey-green leaves. It can be considered an annual, biennial or perennial but is generally treated as an annual. It produces tubular shaped flowers from coloured bracts. Flower colour varies depending on species and cultivar. It usually prefers to be in a sunny or partial shade position, and likes dry to moderately moist soil providing well drained, again depending on species and cultivar. Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens' (Honeywort) has silvery, pale green leaves with purple hanging bells. It gently self-seeds where planted and is attractive to pollinators. Generally treated as an annual.


Propagation from Seed

From Mid Autumn TO Early Spring

Under glass, sow shallowly in freely draining compost in mid/late autumn, or early spring. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, gently move them into individual pots and harden off before planting out in a sunny spot after the frosts. Direct sowing can be undertaken in late spring in a well prepared bed.

 

Planting Season (Spring)

From Early Spring TO Late Spring

Cerinthe generally thrives in a variety of soils and does best in full sun or very light shade. Cerinthe is most often grown straight from seed but small (plug) plants can often be sourced in spring. These can be planted straight into the growing site once all risk of frost has passed.

 
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