Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'

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

Sow Under Cover/Plant Indoors
Direct Sow/Plant Outdoors
Flowers/Harvest

Sarah's Favourite Hardy Annuals

Watch as Sarah shares her top hardy annual flowers.

Gardening at home with Sarah | The best tulips at Perch Hill

In our latest video, Sarah shares her favourite tulips for picking, pots, borders and grass.

Sarah's weekly blog: Chelsea day 1

Heading off to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Press Day early this morning...

Sowing flowers in late summer

Sarah shows how to sow flowers in late summer for more beautiful plants next spring.

Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens' reviews

Average based on 44 reviews

Reviewed 7th March 2020 by Ernie

As stated earlier

Reviewed 3rd September 2019 by Alex

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

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.
Good service

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

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.
The plants I have recently received look much healthier. I have potted them on and await the remainder delivery from you.
Alan.

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.

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.

Did you ever credit my account with the cost of those green/white tulips that went wrong and looked hideously deformed? I sent an email photo of them to you, probably May.

We have now moved house so please send your lovely catalogues to me at 40 Royal York Crescent BS8 4 JU as we have left Cornwall (36 Brunel Quays PL22 0JB)

"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."

Reviewed 2nd September 2018 by Mrs Turner

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.
So take care in very cold weather.
Mind, it was -5C or worse for 72hrs so was pretty severe here in Cambridgeshire!

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.

I have taken my first cut flower today and paired it with some blooms from the creamy apricot Crocus rose. They are suberb together, and I am a quite in love with this plant now.

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.
May the 2nd today it is in full flower and about 4ft. By 4ft and a thick main stem.
Hoping for many seedlings from this.. It is glorious.

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

12 seeds 020010	£1.95	In stock [?] When in stock, please allow up to 5 days for despatch.
5 seedlings 510105-5	£6.50	In stock [?] When in stock, please allow up to 3-4 weeks for despatch. For fruit & veg bare roots/crowns, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.
10 seedlings 510105-10	£11.95	In stock [?] When in stock, please allow up to 3-4 weeks for despatch. For fruit & veg bare roots/crowns, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.
15 seedlings 510105-15	£16.95	In stock [?] When in stock, please allow up to 3-4 weeks for despatch. For fruit & veg bare roots/crowns, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.

Recently Viewed