Honeywort Uses: Benefits, Toxicity, and Whether It's Safe for Dogs, Cats, Bees & Your Garden

Honeywort (Cerinthe major purpurascens), also called Blue Honeywort or Blue Shrimp Plant, is an eye-catching annual grown for its blue-purple bracts and dangling flowers. It is easy to grow, attracts pollinators, and adds unique color to flower beds and containers. Because of its unusual appearance, many gardeners also ask whether honeywort edible, is honeywort poisonous, or if it is safe for pets.

This guide explains the most common honeywort uses, its benefits, and what gardeners should know about toxicity.

What Is Honeywort?

Before discussing honeywort benefits, it helps to understand the plant.

Honeywort is native to the Mediterranean region and grows best in full sun and drained soil. It is popular in cottage gardens because it flowers for months and attracts beneficial insects.

Some gardeners search for blue honeywort facts or blue honeywort facts because the plant looks unusual. Its colorful "petals" are actually modified leaves called bracts that surround small flowers filled with nectar.

You may also see the cultivar Blue Kiwi. If you're researching blue kiwi honeywort hardiness or blue kiwi honeywort hardiness zones, it is generally grown as an annual in most of the United States and is hardy only in mild winter climates, roughly USDA Zones 8 through 10.

Honeywort Uses and Benefits

There are many practical uses for honeywort in the garden.

A Pollinator-Friendly Plant

One of the biggest honeywort benefits is attracting pollinators. Honeywort bees visit the nectar-rich flowers throughout the growing season. Butterflies and hummingbirds also feed on the blooms.

If you're creating a wildlife-friendly landscape, honeywort combines well with other pollinator plants. Annie's guides on Planting a Pollinator's Garden, Best Salvias for Hummingbirds and Bees, and Do Bees Like Scabiosa? offer more ideas.

A Beautiful Cut Flower

Honeywort also makes an excellent cut flower. The colorful bracts and long stems add texture to bouquets, and the flowers last well in fresh arrangements.

Easy to Grow

Honeywort is easy to grow and fits well in borders, containers, and cottage gardens. Once established, it needs little maintenance besides occasional watering during dry weather.

Is Honeywort Edible?

Many gardeners ask is honeywort edible or search for honeywort edible.

While some historical references mention that very young leaves or flowers were eaten in parts of Europe, honeywort is grown today as an ornamental plant, not as a food crop. Because reliable information about safe preparation and consumption is limited, it is best not to eat any parts of the plant.

You may also see searches for kiwi blue honeywort edible. Despite the name, Blue Kiwi Honeywort is an ornamental variety and is not grown for eating.

Is Honeywort Poisonous?

Another common question is is honeywort poisonous or honeywort poisonous.

At this time, Cerinthe major purpurascens is not listed as a highly toxic plant by major references such as the ASPCA or the University of California. However, this does not mean it is intended for people or pets to eat.

Like many common plants, eating small amounts of ornamental plants may cause mild stomach upset.

If a child or pet eats part of the plant and develops symptoms such as drooling vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain, contact your veterinarian or local poison center.

Is Honeywort Poisonous to Dogs and Cats?

Many pet owners search for information about honeywort cat toxicity or wonder whether honeywort is safe to grow around their pets. Based on currently available veterinary references, honeywort (Cerinthe major) is not recognized as a highly toxic plant for dogs or cats, although published research on its plant toxicity is limited. Because not all ornamental or indoor plants have been thoroughly studied, it is still wise to prevent pets from chewing or eating them. For more guidance on choosing pet-friendly ornamentals, read Are Alstroemeria Toxic to Cats? Cat-Friendly Garden Tips.

Honeywort is not known to be poisonous to dogs or cats based on currently available veterinary toxicology references. Unlike plants that are recognized as highly toxic, such as sago palm, autumn crocus, or castor bean, honeywort has not been associated with severe poisoning or life-threatening effects.

Some toxic plants, including English ivy, contain compounds that can cause adverse reactions when pets ingest the toxic part of the plant. In highly poisonous species, exposure can lead to serious complications, including organ damage and, in some cases, effects involving blood pressure, an abnormal heart, or changes in heart rhythm. Honeywort has not been linked to these severe effects in reputable veterinary references.

Although honeywort is not considered mildly toxic or highly poisonous based on current evidence, eating any plant material may still cause temporary digestive upset, such as vomiting, drooling, or diarrhea. If your dog or cat develops repeated vomiting, excessive drooling, lethargy, or other unusual behavior after chewing or eating honeywort, contact your veterinarian promptly.

Featured Plant from Annie's Annuals

If you'd like to grow honeywort in your garden, Annie's Annuals offers:

• Cerinthe major purpurascens (Blue Honeywort, Blue Shrimp Plant, Blue Wax Flower) produces striking blue-purple bracts, attracts pollinators, and makes an outstanding cut flower. Learn more on the Cerinthe major purpurascens product page. For more garden inspiration, visit Romantic Cottage Garden Flowers We Secretly (and Not So Secretly) Adore.

Conclusion

Honeywort is grown for its unusual beauty, long bloom season, and ability to attract pollinators. Its colorful flowers brighten gardens while supporting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Although honeywort is not known to be highly toxic, it is best treated as an ornamental plant rather than an edible one. Keep children and pets from eating any part of the plant, and contact a medical professional or veterinarian if accidental ingestion causes symptoms.

FAQs About Honeywort Uses