Topic: can you ID a pretty purple flower for me?

[antipodes]

I have two of these come up in the flower bed the lottie but don't know what it is. It has either self seeded or it was in a mixed seed set that I sowed some of last year but didn't work then.

That is the general view of it, (careful there is also a buttercup mixed up with it, but its flowers are definitely purple.) then I took a close up too:


It is about 30 cm high and attracts bumble bees. It is very pretty and I am curious to identify it so I can find out how to save the seed ;)
I have lots of mystery plants that have come up unexpectedly, like mint that I had thought was dead, coriander, etc
Thanks for any help!

[flowerofshona2007]

Its 'Cerinthe major purpurascens' its a short lived HP :)

[antipodes]

oh yes that's it! isn't it pretty??
http://www.shootgardening.co.uk/sitePlant.php?plantid=681
it says in some articles that if you tie it up a little the flowers bloom better as the stems droop (this seems true) I will get a few sticks in with it an dtie it to them. I am now wondering whether my friend didn't give me a couple of seeds of this? so they have been in the ground for a year and only now have decided to come up.
Thank you very much for that ID, very helpful.

[caroline7758]

It may be short-lived but it's a good self-seeder, or easy to collect seed from yourself. I love its translucence (if that's a word!)