Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'

RHS Plant Profile
honeywort 'Purpurascens'

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honeywort 'Purpurascens' RHS 1999
honeywort 'Purpurascens' RHS
honeywort 'Purpurascens' RHS
honeywort 'Purpurascens' Copyrighted 2003

Synonyms

Cerinthe major var. purpurescens

Plants for pollinators
Annual Biennial
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A popular, upright annual or occasionally biennial, to 60cm in height, with blue-green leaves lightly spotted white, and tubular deep purple flowers, sometimes tipped yellow, with conspicuous purple bracts, flowering in spring and summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Boraginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Cerinthe can be annuals, biennials or perennials, with simple, often greyish leaves and tubular flowers borne in a pendent terminal cluster with conspicuous bracts
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a well-drained, fertile soil in a sheltered position in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in gentle heat in spring, plant out when the danger of frost has passed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Coastal
  • Gravel garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free