Scientific Name: Cerinthe major
Planting : Honeywort thrives in full sun, so select a location in your garden that receives plenty of sunlight throughout the day: Ensure the soil is well-draining and fertile. You can improve the soil quality by adding organic matter such as compost before planting. Sow the honeyword seeds at a depth of about 1/4 inch in the prepared soil. Spacing: Space the seeds or seedlings 12cm apart to allow room for growth. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during the germination and growing period. 65-75dys to full maturity.
Plant type: Annual
Harvesting: To harvest honeywort, you should wait until the flowers are in full bloom. When the plant is at its peak, cut the stems early in the morning before the heat of the day causes wilting.
Appearance : The honeywort flower, Cerinthe major, has a unique and captivating appearance. The tubular flowers are borne in clusters of two or three and are surrounded by large, almost heart-shaped, nodding bracts. The flowers themselves are about one inch long and produce honey-flavoured nectar, which likely contributes to the plant’s common name. In the wild, the flower color can vary greatly from cream or pale yellow to reddish lavender or purple. The bracts surrounding the flowers also exhibit a wide range of colours, from dull blue-green to vivid blue or strong purple.
Vase life: These blooms are wilt-prone, so cut during the coolest part of the day. Harvest when 1/3 of blooms are open, immediately after cutting, place in a quick dip or boiling water, then in cool water. Vase life can be expected to be 7-10 days.
Special Futures : The flowers of Honeywort produce an abundant amount of nectar, making it an ideal food source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Its tubular-shaped blossoms serve as a convenient landing pad for these insects. Surprisingly, Honeywort’s flowers are edible and have a subtle, sweet flavour that can be used as a decorative addition to salads, desserts, and even cocktails.Honeywort is known for its ability to withstand drought conditions due to its fleshy leaves that help retain moisture in dry environments. This makes it an excellent choice for gardens in arid regions or during periods of water scarcity. The vibrant flowers of Honeywort attract beneficial insects such as hoverflies and parasitic wasps that help control pests in the garden by preying on harmful insects like aphids and caterpillars.
Design features: I love these unusual flowers in mixed bouquets and in arrangements I use them as a line flower.