Honeywort (blue shrimp plant) Cerinthe major
Honeywort (blue shrimp plant) (Cerinthe major) is an annual flowering plant in the Boraginaceae family, native to Mediterranean basin. It grows 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall and 30–45 cm (12–18 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -5 °C (23 °F). Space plants about 30 cm (12 in) apart.
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Honeywort (blue shrimp plant) at a glance
| Type | Annual flowering plant |
|---|---|
| Family | Boraginaceae |
| Mature height | 30–60 cm (12–24 in) |
| Mature spread | 30–45 cm (12–18 in) |
| Spacing | 30 cm (12 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -5 °C (23 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 32 °C (90 °F) |
| Flowering | about 10–14 weeks after planting, for 7–11 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 110 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Mediterranean basin |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇫🇷 France, 🇦🇺 Australia |
Is Honeywort (blue shrimp plant) toxic?
- People: not well documented
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
No poisonings on record; the borage family often holds pyrrolizidine alkaloids, so do not eat it.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Honeywort (blue shrimp plant)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Honeywort (blue shrimp plant)
- How far apart should I plant Honeywort (blue shrimp plant)?
- About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–45 cm (12–18 in).
- Does Honeywort (blue shrimp plant) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Honeywort (blue shrimp plant) need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Honeywort (blue shrimp plant)?
- It tolerates about -5 °C (23 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9. As an annual it is usually planted out after the last frost.
- When does Honeywort (blue shrimp plant) flower?
- About 10–14 weeks after planting, for 7–11 weeks.
- Is Honeywort (blue shrimp plant) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people not well documented. No poisonings on record; the borage family often holds pyrrolizidine alkaloids, so do not eat it.
- What grows well with Honeywort (blue shrimp plant)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Honeywort (blue shrimp plant). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
- Euro+Med PlantBase, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin
Notes and assumptions
- A hardy annual: sow where it is to flower in autumn or early spring, thin the seedlings, and let some plants set seed.
- Blue-green, waxy leaves and nodding purple bracts around dark tubular flowers that bumblebees work hard. In mild gardens it seeds itself year after year.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Borage Borago officinalis
- Comfrey Symphytum officinale
- Woodland forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
- Lungwort (pulmonaria) Pulmonaria officinalis
- Heliotrope Heliotropium arborescens
- Tree echium (giant viper's bugloss) Echium pininana
- Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica
- Pride of Madeira Echium candicans