I just went on a seed buying binge and bought a package of cerinthe m. purpurescens. Does or has anyone grown this??
I don't think it's hardy in zone 5 but am not sure. any info and growing advise would be great.
thanks,
Becky
Does anyone grow...Cerinthe???
I think it's an annual. Well it's an annual in my garden anyway. I've read it will re-seed but it didn't for me. http://davesgarden.com/plants/go/216.html
HI Becky,
This is my first year with it.... But it said it was hardy for me in zone 6 but I can't say that it will be.... I hope so I have really loved it.
I had some last year and loved it - haven't gotten the seeds in the ground yet, but there's still time. Here in zone 5, it was a fast grower, bloomed profusely, self seeded and died in the first hard frost. I really want to get some growing again - it is lovely and subtle and gets quite large (18 inches tall, 24 wide) and bushy.
Planted mine in the fall and they bloomed very pretty in early spring and new plants are about 2-3 inches tall from the early flowers, so I think they should bloom again before frost kill. I thought they were supposed to be perennial but were annual for me.
Beautiful flowers and leaves.
If it isn't hardy where you are - you could gather their many, many, many seeds in the fall. I put them in a coffee filter and they germinated in one day. Grew very quickly. Easy, undemanding. Love them
I have 2 Cerinthe major's growing in a pot.... If I take them inside for winter can I grow them as perennials? I also sowed 2 C. M. 'Blue Kiwi' seeds today and will sow more someday and next year.. I know i am late ..
Evert, My experience with growing them in pots here in zone 8b are they pretty much fizzle out by summers end and start dying.So I've never been able to try wintering them over inside. They produce so many seeds that I just start new ones each year. Joy
I put some Blue Kiwi cerinthe seeds to the same poth with 2 bigger and both seeds grew 2 little plants... is it normal?
Does anyone know whether cerinthe seeds need to be overwintered in a container in the salad drawer at the bottom of the fridge, please? Someone told me they need a period of cold to germinate the following spring but I don't know if this is true as I bought my first plant this year.
Lynne, I don't think you need to stratify (refrigerate or freeze) these seeds. Here's germination instructions for Cerinthe major:
Cerinthe major: sow @ 60 to 65ºF , 7-14 days to germinate
(from Tom Clothier's site: http://www.anet.com/~manytimes/page52.htm)
First cerinthe is starting to bloom! :9 jippii....
Sis, I don't know why the link didn't work, but here it is again. http://www.anet.com/~manytimes/page32.htm
The instructions I posted below the link are the same as what Tom C. has on his site. He doesn't have a photo of Cerinthe in his photo gallery.
But there is a photo in our plants database. http://davesgarden.com/plants/go/216.html