Exposure Full-sun to partial shade
West Coast Seeds ships anywhere in North America. However, we are not able to ship garlic, potatoes, asparagus crowns, bulbs, onion sets, Mason bee cocoons, or nematodes outside of Canada. We regret, we cannot accept returns or damages for orders outside of Canada. The minimum shipping charge to the US is $9.99.
Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'. This annual is one of the best for beginner gardeners as it is one of the easiest and most rewarding garden flowers to grow. Honeywort is deer resistant, drought resistant, and works well in patio containers. Its arching stems grow to around 60cm (24") tall and have a summer-long bloom time as new flowers continue to open from the ends of each branching stem. The bluish grey foliage resembles Eucalyptus, and is just as useful in cut flower displays. The ancient Greeks believed that bees extracted wax from the flowers in order to build honeycomb, perhaps because bees adore the abundant, nectar-rich flowers. Pronounced 'seer-inth' - the final 'e' is silent.
Annual
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Latin
Latin
Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'
Family: Boraginaceae
Difficulty
Difficulty
Very easy
Season & Zone
Season & Zone
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Starting
Starting
Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, or direct sow outdoors in early spring. Just cover the large seeds. If starting indoors, provide bright light and a soil temperature of 10-15°C (65-70°F).
Growing
Growing
Space or transplant 30-45cm (12-18″) apart. Water regularly during dry spells. Mulch around the stems in spring to keep the soil cool and moist. Cerinthe tends to self-sow, but is never invasive.
West Coast Seeds is a family-owned company that embraces an organic lifestyle. A group of imagination catalysts and passionate educators, dedicated to producing products and services that better the environment. As part of our mission to repair the earth, we aim to inspire and empower people to take responsibility for the state of the planet. For us, organic is about much more than saying no to chemicals, it is about saying yes to building a healthy soil for the future.
For over 35 years, we have upheld our strong reputation as a leading seed supplier, seeking out the highest quality untreated seeds for organic growing and putting them through rigorous independent testing. We built our company on the exchange of generational wisdom in a masterclass community of newbies and masters alike. Our world may have changed, but our commitment to our people, our customers, and our planet has not.
We’re a values-based business that has blossomed into a lifestyle ethos, with products that support seeders, feeders, keepers, and the tiniest of creepers. Our mission? To mobilize the next generation of gardeners with products that nourish soil and grow vigorous, sustainable gardens. We believe all plants should be grown without the use of chemicals, and that the seeds we supply are an important component of regenerative gardening.
We don’t just offer seeds, we offer experience, insight, and understanding. From timeless garden wisdom to new tech know-how, this is learning on the job: knowledge gleaned not from the pages of a book but from burying our fingers in the soil. We test, experiment, observe and adapt, never happier than when we get to share what we’ve learned with others.
Gardens don’t just grow seeds. They grow minds and imaginations, people and communities. Our vision encompasses both the micro and the macro. We eat locally, protect pollinators, teach people to grow from seed, and support regional biodiversity. We think big but act small and deliver unexpected impact — always with community and purpose.
At West Coast Seeds we believe in the power of small and that little can be large. Like the tiniest seed germinates to evoke incremental change with massive potential, so to can our community of gardeners and growers together. Gardeners are the earth’s stewards, planting seeds of creative declaration. The soil provides the canvas, we provide the seeds.
Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, or direct sow outdoors in early spring. Just cover the large seeds. If starting indoors, provide bright light and a soil temperature of 10-15°C (65-70°F).
Space or transplant 30-45cm (12-18″) apart. Water regularly during dry spells. Mulch around the stems in spring to keep the soil cool and moist. Cerinthe tends to self-sow, but is never invasive.
