Cerinth seeds, also known as Honeywort or Cerinthe Major
Plants grow beautiful unique tall stems with dark foliage and purple to blue flowers. The arching stems with their flower look like lanterns and are one of the most unique we have ever grown. It does not look like any other type of flower. You can easily grow it from seed in autumn and late winter. The flowers not only attract many bees, but you can also pick them for floral bouquets. The stems get a bit floppy after picking but once hydrated they will last at least a week.

Autumn-sown plants grow much taller and flower in late spring or early summer! A perfect flower to fill the gap after early flowering tulips. If your soil is well draining you can plant out in autumn to overwinter in the garden. Otherwise, overwinter in a greenhouse or somewhere outdoors with protection from the rain. If you have never tried or seen this plant before, you will be surprise by how special it is.

Planting information to grow your cerinthe from seed:
Plant type: half-hardy annual
Height: 50-120 centimeters depending on when you sow the seeds
Position: full sun or partial shade
Start: September or February/March
Germination: 1-2 weeks
Number of days until plants bloom: 70-240 days
Distance between the plants: 30 to 40 centimeters
Flowers from April or May to July
Pollinator-friendly: Yes!
Number of seeds per pack: 50

Tips on how to grow cerinthe or honeywort from seed
Honeywort is a cool-season annual plant, so it’s best to sow the seeds either in late summer or early autumn. This will give the plants enough time to establish and bloom early in the following year. But if you forgot to sow them, don’t worry you can sow them in February as well. We had the best results when seeds are sown in larger cell trays, like 40 deep trays or 28 low trays. Honeywort seeds usually germinate within 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the conditions. Once germinated grow it in a cooler place like your greenhouse. Transplant to larger pots (P9) or large 15 cel trays around December or January. The plants can tolerate mild frost without any problem. Plant out in well-draining soil in full sun or partial shade around the end of February. If your soil is well-draining you can plant out in October and overwinter them in the garden in open ground.

Remember to deadhead the spent flowers to encourage prolonged blooming and to prevent self-seeding if you don’t want it to spread too much. By following these steps, you should have beautiful plants gracing your garden.