Cerinthe retorta

VIOLET HONEYWORT
Family: Boraginaceae
Pronounced: ser-IN-thee re-TOR-tuh

 

Quick Jumps

Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes

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GROWING GUIDE

Origin:
Turkey and the Balkan Peninsula.
Plant Group:
Annuals.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 1-24.
Mature size:
Height: 1-2 feet (30-60 cm).
Width: 1-2 feet (30-60 cm).
Flowering period:
Summer.
Flowering attributes:
One-inch long, yellow tubes with burgundy tips.
Leaf attributes:
Glaucous, pale green-gray to blue, spoon-shaped foliage.
Light:
Full sun to light shade.
Soil:
For best results, plant in humus rich, moist but well-drained soil.
Feeding:
Use a complete organic fertilizer when seedlings appear and monthly applications thereafter.
Propagation Methods:
Sow seed in spring after danger of frost has passed.

 

Rainy Side Notes

"C. retorta is a beautiful kind, the floral leaves of a rich purple tint, and from among them peep the yellow-purple-tipped flowers in charming contrast."
~William Robinson

I grew this in a container last summer where it turned out to be a great performer all summer. This species was as easy to grow as C. majus. Although I didn't grow C. retorta in the ground as I have the majus, it grows much the same. I am waiting to see if it reseeds like its relative does.

The leaves have dappling much like a variegated pulmonaria. Which makes sense since both plants are in the same Boraginaceae family.

Cerinthe comes from the Greek word keros—wax, and anthos—a flower. At one time, it was considered an important nectar source for honeybees. It was also thought that bees obtained wax from the flowers. The genus is originally from the Mediterranean region, so the plant does well in our Mediterranean-type climate.

More cerinthe

Debbie Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.