Sarah's Favourite Hardy Annuals
Watch as Sarah shares her top hardy annual flowers.
12 seeds 020010 | £1.95 |
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When in stock, please allow up to 5 days for despatch.
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5 seedlings 510105-5 | £6.50 |
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When in stock, please allow up to 4-6 weeks for despatch. For fruit & veg bare roots/crowns or potatoes, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.
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10 seedlings 510105-10 | £11.95 |
In stock
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When in stock, please allow up to 4-6 weeks for despatch. For fruit & veg bare roots/crowns or potatoes, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.
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15 seedlings 510105-15 | £16.95 |
In stock
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When in stock, please allow up to 4-6 weeks for despatch. For fruit & veg bare roots/crowns or potatoes, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.
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Or buy this as part of our The New Foliage Collection and Bee and Butterfly Paradise.
Silvery leaves with purple hanging bells - one of the best annual foliage plants. I absolutely love this and it gently self-sows, so you never need buy it again. It's superb as a garden plant, in pots underplanting tulips, and as a cut flower.
If you have ordered these seeds, we have had unforeseen delays and they will now be available late March. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Genus | Cerinthe |
Group/Species | major |
Variety | Purpurascens |
Type | Hardy Annual |
Common Name | Honeywort |
Border Position | Cutting Garden |
Soil Type | Broad Tolerance |
Scent | Unscented |
Site | Full Sun |
Moisture | Well-drained |
Height | 60cm (24in) |
Spacing | 60cm (24in) |
Sowing, Seeds, Planting | The seeds are tough so best soaked for 12 hours and then sown in a gutter or direct, either in late spring for flowering this year, or early autumn for flowers early in the following year. If sowing direct, sow as thinly as possible into soil with a fine consistency, it should have no lumps bigger than a large marble. Water gently using a fine rose on your watering can so as not to displace the seed. If it doesn't rain you may need to water again to keep the soil moist. Seedlings should appear within 2-3 weeks. Once seedlings are 2-3cm (1in) tall and have a pair of leaves that look like tiny versions of what you would expect to see on the parent plant, thin them out, leaving one good plant every 10cm (4in). Thin again in a month or so to 30-45cm (12-18in), you can re-plant the seedlings you remove to elsewhere in the garden or put them in the compost bin. May be sown earlier undercover in mid-March. If sowing in a gutter, fill the gutter with potting compost. Don’t bother to drill holes in the bottom of gutters or block the ends. Sow the seed sparingly in a central strip – ideally one seed every 6cm (2in) or so. Allow it to grow on until the seedlings are 2cm (1in). To plant out make a trench to mirror the depth and length of the pipe, scooping out the soil with a trowel or draw hoe. Water well to bind the compost and then slide the seedlings from the guttering into the U-trench. |
Care Tips | Hardy annuals can withstand a touch of frost and can be sown/planted straight into the ground in the autumn and will keep through the winter without protection. In colder areas you may wish to cover seedlings or keep in a cold frame/ unheated greenhouse. Cut flowers regularly for the vase and to prolong flowering. Remove seedheads if you do not want it to self-sow. |
Flowering | May - July |
Vase Life | 7-10 days. When sappy in spring, sear stem ends in boiling water for 30 seconds. |
Harvesting | Flower production: 2-3 months. |
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Watch as Sarah shares her top hardy annual flowers.
In our latest video, Sarah shares her favourite tulips for picking, pots, borders and grass.
Heading off to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Press Day early this morning...
Sarah shows how to sow flowers in late summer for more beautiful plants next spring.
Plant Delivery - When in stock, please allow up to 4-6 weeks for despatch. For fruit & veg bare roots/crowns or potatoes, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.
Seeds Delivery - When in stock, please allow up to 5 days for despatch.
Click here to find out more information about our delivery rates and times.
Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens' reviews
Reviewed 7th March 2020 by Ernie As stated earlier |
Reviewed 3rd September 2019 by Alex
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Reviewed 20th August 2019 by Tineke Germinated quickly and easily, I didn't know this plant and was pleasantly surprised. I do hope they will selfseed! |
Reviewed 10th August 2019 by Angela They grew very well, despite my neglect of them. |
Reviewed 7th August 2019 by Elizabeth A little disappointing as they have got leggy rather than bushy and the leaves are a bit pallid and there is nothing special about the flowers. However they germinated and grew on well and have been very reliable. I will see how they seed themselves for next year. |
Reviewed 4th August 2019 by Mary Brilliant plants, all the seeds grew as per instructions and they are now 'wowing' the bees |
Reviewed 1st August 2019 by Nicky Beautiful plants that all grew well |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by William I like the whole set up and information service about what you should be sowing. |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Jan Really teeny seedlings, not the size I expected but really pretty in my cutting beds now. I’ll be saving the seeds and growing my own next year. |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Martha On the whole I thought the delivery process and actual packaging was good, though a few of the sweet pea seedlings had some broken stalks. |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Niall
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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Donald Lovely plant and looking good |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Sally Good strong plants .Also bougjht seeds which did well |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Chrissie Love this plant. It arrived well packaged and has grown on well. |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Marie Lovely plant. All seeds germinated. |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Stacey 100% germination rate and gorgeous, healthy, quality plants grew from robust seeds! |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Susanna Wonderful flower! And bees love it too! |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Alison The first batch of these failed as I sowed them too early. My second batch germinated well in late April and have produced strong plants and a profusion of flowers. This is by far the best flower to grow from seed, wonderful. |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Gillian
All fine really pleased. |
Reviewed 9th June 2019 by Nicola Really easy to germinate, growing beautiful |
Reviewed 21st November 2018 by Barbara I’ve bought plants and occasionally gift wrap fro Sarah Raven. I love the planting ideas , particularly the colour combinations.The catalogue is a delight but more importantly the plants arrive in very good condition. |
Reviewed 14th November 2018 by Helen
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Reviewed 19th September 2018 by Janis very vibrant and are still in bloom at mid September |
Reviewed 19th September 2018 by Elaine Produces lots of lovely foliage and colour for most if the summer and has self-seeded profusely. |
Reviewed 19th September 2018 by Mrs Davis Flowered beautifully and are still flowering. I have had these over the past few years and they have always performed very well |
Reviewed 19th September 2018 by Valerie Excellent quality plants which flowered profusely for several months. Will try them from seed next year |
Reviewed 19th September 2018 by Tracey Amazing. I love these. They were wonderful and the bees absolutely loved them too! |
Reviewed 13th September 2018 by Alan
Unfortunately the Cerinthe major were very weak, small and very spindly when they grew. I was unable to secure any seeds from them. Reply from the Sarah Raven Team:"Thank you for leaving your review. We are very sorry to hear of your disappointment with your Cerinthe seedlings and have refunded you for them." Posted 7th November 2018 |
Reviewed 13th September 2018 by Andrea Arrived well wrapped and packaged but didn’t look very impressive. I wasn’t convinced even once planted that they would give the display suggested but they have been fantastic, filled big gaps in a newly planted border and flowered all summer. I have just pulled them out but some scattered seeds have already taken and I’m looking forward to seeing them again next year. Thank you! |
Reviewed 12th September 2018 by Patricia Won't always tolerate colder climates here but good healthy plants survive d an atrocious spring to give a excellent show |
Reviewed 12th September 2018 by David Good quality seedlings - grew on well and looked lovely in my local hospice garden. |
Reviewed 3rd September 2018 by Julian Plants arrived in good condition and did not disappoint |
Reviewed 3rd September 2018 by Dawn Prompt delivery. Healthy seedings, raring to grow! |
Reviewed 3rd September 2018 by Serena Sadly they didn’t grow very well when planted out which is a pity as they are such a wonderful colour. Reply from the Sarah Raven Team:"Thank you for leaving your review. We are very sorry to hear of your disappointment with your Cerinthe seedlings and have refunded you for them." Posted 7th November 2018 |
Reviewed 2nd September 2018 by Patricia
Lovely but flowered much much later (and went on much longer ) than the white tulips that they were supposed to flower with. Reply from the Sarah Raven Team:"Thank you for your review. we are sorry to hear of your disappointment with your cerinthe seedlings. We have checked your account and can confirm that you were refunded for the tulip bulbs on 4th May. We have amended your address on your account and arranged for our autumn catalogue to be sent out to you." Posted 7th November 2018 |
Reviewed 2nd September 2018 by Mrs Turner
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Reviewed 29th August 2018 by Debs All the cerinthe major plants I ordered have thrived and still going. Some have set seed as well and are already growing for next year. The bees have loved them and to be honest the bees and insects are still visiting them! The website it easy to use and the service is fab every time |
Reviewed 29th August 2018 by Miriam Grew well in a large pot. The bees loved them. |
Take care with frost - or they may well be lost!
Reviewed 13th August 2018 by Andrew D
Sadly, after growing them through summer and winter, the Beast from the East killed them stone dead despite being protected under fleece. |
excellent seed germination
Reviewed 27th May 2017 by Julia I bought these as seeds and all of them germinated well. A bit floppy when I planted them outside but most have recovered and are now growing taller and stronger. The leaves have a bluish hint. |
Bees love it
Reviewed 4th May 2016 by Liz Leyden At first I was nervous as the seedlings seemed very floppy and took several weeks to 'perk up', but once they straightened and bloomed, they lasted until very late October, and the bees absolutely loved them, they made an unusual sound when inside the 'bells'. Buying again this year. Highly recommend for their unusual appearance and bee appeal. |
Easy and striking
Reviewed 15th June 2015 by Cat Lawton
This is the first year I have ever grown honeywort, never having seen it except in Sarah Raven pics. I decided to plant all of my seeds and every single one germinated. I've never had much skill with growing from seed but these have been easy and successful, despite my inconsistent care. It is quite unusual and the dainty purple flowers against the glaucous foliage are beautiful together. |
Cerinthe Major
Reviewed 5th May 2015 by Jean Hughes
Not had this in my garden in a number of years then one suddenly pops up in February. By the end of March it was huge and in flower by the front door. |
Cerinthe major
Reviewed 3rd July 2014 by joyce local vet gave me a few seeds,they came up every year for 14 yrs missed last year popped up one very large plant this year,so am saving and sharing out lots of seeds.Never tried as cut flower ,but will give it a go next year.Can reccomend trying it if you like something unusual |