Cerinthe major (honeywort)

Japanese name: セリンセ マヨール
Scientific name: Cerinthe major

[Overview]
An annual or biennial 30–50 cm tall.
The whole plant is hairless and coated with wax, so it looks whitish.
The stem branches in the upper part.
Leaves are simple and alternate; those on the lower part of the stem are ovate to spatulate, 5 cm long and 2 cm wide, with a narrowed base and a short leaf stalk.
The leaves on the upper part of the stem are ovate-lanceolate to elliptic, 2–6.5 cm long and 1–2.5 cm wide, without leaf stalks, and the base is heart-shaped and clasps the stem.
The leaf surface has whitish spots.
Cymes at the stem tips have bracts.
The bracts are often tinged with purple, ovate with a slightly heart-shaped base, and have marginal hairs.
The flowers are cylindrical, about 2 cm long, and hang downward; the tip is slightly 5-lobed, and the lobes curve backward.
The flower color is either two-toned, yellow in the upper part and dark red at the base, or entirely purple.
The pistil projects far out of the flower.
The calyx is shorter than the bracts and has marginal hairs.
The fruit is a nutlet-like schizocarp.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It also multiplies well by self-sown seed.
In regions without frost, it can overwinter outdoors after the seed is sown.
It prefers sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Watch that the soil does not become too wet when watering; for potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
If a base fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizing is particularly necessary.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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