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Boraginaceae
Honeywort
Cerinthe major
Hidden sweetness and attraction.
- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Genus
- Cerinthe
- Native to
- Mediterranean Europe
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- annual or short-lived perennial
- Height
- 30–60 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- well-drained, average
- Water
- low to moderate
- Hardiness
- 5–9
- Lifespan
- annual; self-seeds readily
Did you know
- The name Cerinthe comes from Greek 'keros' (wax) and 'anthos' (flower), as bees gather wax-like nectar from it.
- Its blue-grey waxy leaves are so water-repellent that raindrops bead up like mercury.
- Honeywort is one of the best bee-attracting annuals; beekeepers often plant it near hives.
- The pendulous tubular flowers start yellow and mature to deep purple, often showing both colors at once.
- It was grown in monastery gardens throughout medieval Europe specifically to support honeybee colonies.
Color meanings
Purple
mysterious allure
Blue
creative inspiration