Columbia Star

1963        Celebrating 60 Years      2023

Love-in-a-Mist

Stopping to smell the flowers



 

 

One of my all time favorite flowers, love-in-amist, Nigella damascena, is reappearing in seed racks and garden catalogs. The romantic name, ethereal flowers, and lace-like foliage attract attention.

A hardy cool-season annual in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), love-in-a-mist stands upright 15-20” tall with delicate, jewel-like flowers 1-1.5” wide that nest among finely divided threadlike bracts creating a misty aura around the flowerheads. At first glance flowerheads resemble bachelor buttons in shape and colors of white, blue, pink, and lavender.

Direct sow the velvety black teardrop shaped seeds in spring in northern climates and fall (October – December) for southern climates when soil temperatures are 60-65°F. Seeds emerge in 10-15 days. The plant’s long taproot discourages transplanting. In South Carolina nigellas send up a rosette of feathery leaves in winter. In spring flower stalks shoot up and bloom but wane in summer heat. Succession planting produces a longer bloom schedule.

Nigellas make longlasting cut or dried flowers.

Nigellas make longlasting cut or dried flowers.

Nigellas thrive in sun with well-drained fertile soil and regular watering. A soil pH of 6.5-7 (like a vegetable garden) is desirable. Deadheading encourages continual bloom but gardeners often leave some blooms on to harvest the decorative papery seedpods for dry arrangements or to save seeds for next year’s garden.

In its native Mediterranean habitat of southern Europe and northern Africa, nigella grows in fields, along roadsides, and in rocky or waste ground. Nigella became a popular feature in Elizabethan cottage gardens and is still used today in replications of them. Reseeding readily, nigellas fit into low-maintenance meadows, wildflower patches, and pollinator gardens. Nigella is charismatic in window boxes, hanging baskets and patio containers. The flowers make long lasting cut or dried flowers.

Introduce children to love-in-a-mist for growing around their playhouse, near the swing set or seesaw, and in butterfly, cutting, and sensory gardens. The flowers and seedpods are play props. While the face of the flower teases the eye by resembling a ballerina’s tutu and feathery foliage tickles the skin, the puffy seedpods rattle when shaken. Nigellas are a perfect fit for a child-crafted talking bouquet, the tussie mussie.

Children use the dry seedpods as a rattle; adults use them in dry bouquets.

Children use the dry seedpods as a rattle; adults use them in dry bouquets.

Having no serious disease or pest problems, nigellas are among of the most carefree flowers to grow.

There are a number of cultivars:

• ‘Miss Jekyll’ has soft blue, semi-double flowers.

• ‘Miss Jekyll Alba’ has pure white semi-double flowers.

• ‘Mulberry Rose’ has deep pink flowers.

• ‘Oxford Blue’ is a taller variety with deep blue flowers and dark seed pods.

• ‘Persian Jewels’ have double flowers in shades of mauve, lavender, purple, rose, light blue and white.

Love-in-a-mist is most valued as a beautiful, lacy ornamental in the garden and a colorful component of floral arrangements.

Seed Sources
www.botanicalinterests.com
www.monticelloshop.org
www.reneesgarden.com
www.parkseed.com
www.selectseeds.com

Flowerheads seem to float on threadlike bracts.

Flowerheads seem to float on threadlike bracts.

 

 

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