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Jessie Keith
Ranunculaceae
Nigella damascena
Love-in-a-mist
The airy beauty of these short-lived annuals is fleeting and ephemeral but a treat while they last. The aptly named love-in-a-mist is a spring annual native to southern Europe, western Asia and parts of North Africa. It sets copious seeds that germinate in fall, overwinter as seedlings and bloom from mid-spring to early summer. After blooming, the plants immediately die and set seed for another cycle.
The leaves of love-in-a-mist are bright green and very fine and ferny, almost feather-like. The upright plants begin to grow upwards and branch out in spring and may flower anytime from spring to early summer, depending on the zone. The violet-blue flowers are complex and supported by rows of colorful bracts and feathery leaves. White, pink and pale blue cultivars are available. The flowers attract bees and are quickly followed by bulbous brown capsules filled with black seeds. These plants self-sow prodigiously, so be sure to remove the seed pods and only sprinkle the seeds where you want plants the following year.
Full sun and fertile to average, well-drained soil are suitable for these annuals. They are easy to grow. Simply sprinkle their seeds outdoors in fall or early spring and they will come up on their own. They do not transplant well, so do not grow them indoors for outdoor planting.
These are best planted as filler annuals between perennials or more long-lasting annuals. They are lovely while they last and their delicate seed pods can be dried and used in everlasting arrangements.
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Annual
Full Sun, Partial Sun
12"-18" / 30.5cm - 45.7cm
6"-8" / 15.2cm - 20.3cm
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Western Asia
Neutral
Loam
Very Fast
Average Water
Upright/Erect
Spring, Summer
Showy
Blue, Blue Violet
Sandy Brown
Green
No
Single
Yes
Fine
Matte
Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Sometimes
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