Grown in European gardens since the middle ages, I only discovered honeywort this past year and I am hooked! The genus name (Cerinthe major purpurascens) is derived from the Greek, meaning 'waxflower', as it was thought that bees took their wax from the honeywort blossom. I immediately fell in love with the vibrance and unique beauty of these purple-blue bell-shaped flowers and gorgeous glossy foliage that also have an iridescent-like blue hue to them . Each flower has a drop of nectar ("honey") that is irresistible to bees and other pollinators. They are a deep royal purple but I've noticed them begin to turn more blue as the weather gets cooler. Honeywort made beautiful additions to my floral arrangements and will be a staple in my garden going forward. I'm thrilled to have been able to collect a small number of these seeds to share with you this year.
Pre-soaking the seeds over-night aids germination. Sow seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, or direct sow after all thread of frost has passed. Plant ⅛" deep (approximately the same depth as the size of the seed.) Germination occurs within 5-12 days, depending on if you presoak or nick the seed before planting. Requires well-draining soil that is moist but not saturated. I highly recommend hardening these off thoroughly before transplanting outdoors and I've found them to be a bit sensitive to the colder nights outside the greenhouse.
Botanical meaning: good luck
This plant is sometimes referred to as a "blue shrimp plant" or "kiwi blue".
Qty: approximately 20-25 seeds
At this time, this item can only be shipped to addresses in the United States.