Blue Shrimp Plant (Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'): Exotic Annual with Steel-Blue Bracts

Blue Shrimp Plant Overview

Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens' is a Mediterranean annual that stops visitors in their tracks with its otherworldly appearance. Steely purple bracts and leathery, gray-green eucalyptus-like leaves create an extraterrestrial effect among conventional garden plants. The nodding, purple-black flowers resemble tiny purple euphorbias. Large black seeds drop in late summer and often self-sow, returning the following fall if conditions are right.

Growing Requirements

• Light: Full sun to very light shade
• Soil: Thrives in a variety of well-drained soils
• Size: 1–3 feet tall and wide
• Hardiness: Grown as an annual; self-seeds in favorable climates

Propagation & Care

Collect seeds in fall and store dry over winter. Sow in pots in successive batches in spring to replace flagging plants with fresh seedlings. Transplant when 2–3 inches tall, or direct-sow after frost danger passes. Young plants may attract slugs. Moderate maintenance; excellent for cottage gardens, containers, and beds.