Re: Info on Cerinthe major
Al. Robert Krismer wrote:
>
> I am growing some Cerinthe major "Blue Kiwi". I am wondering what type of soil
> and exposure it needs. The catalog lists it as a perennial which needs special
> protection. Will it survive winters in Zone 6? mimimum -10 F or -23 C.
>
>
I don't know "Blue Kiwi". Is it a selection of Cerinthe major? I have
grown Cerinthe major purpurascens, which has been one of the hottest
plants of the last two or three years in the UK. It was advertised (by
Thompson & Morgan in their catalogue) as a hardy perennial in this
country. It isn't. It certainly wouldn't survive in Zone 6.
I grow it as an annual as it is so easy and quick from seed. It is
possible to overwinter it here in a greenhouse, but it becomes very
leggy and unwieldy, so it really isn't worth it as it grows to flowering
size so quickly. I save seed during the summer and keep it for the next
spring, but I also find that here I get seedlings germinating in the
ground in the spring.
I don't know whether it would like heavy clay, but it certainly likes my
sandy soil and is also a great success in pots. I have a friend who
opens her garden to the public one day each year and the last two years
a pot of Cerinthe has been the most talked about plant in the garden. We
got asked about it by so many people that we put a special label on with
cultural details and where to get seed!
Barbara Barklem
Woking, Surrey, UK
Equivalent to Zone 8/9
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