How To Grow Love-In-A-Mist Seeds
Updated on Nov 19, 2021
By Shannon McCabe
Latin name Nigella damascena is an annual member of the buttercup family. In its native range the plants grow as a wildflower along roadsides, in abandoned fields and in wastelands and rocky areas. The unique balloon-like inflorescence and brilliant blooms make this a favorite for the cut flower garden or landscape.
HISTORY
Native to the Mediterranean, it was popularized as a cottage garden favorite by legendary garden designer Gertrude Jekyll.
USES
- Ornamental
- Beds, borders, containers, cottage garden, cut flower garden
- Seed pods can be cut and used in dried or fresh arrangements
- Visited by bees
- Seeds germinate in 7-14 days.
- Plants are best direct sown but can be started indoors ahead of time.
- Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost or direct seed after last chance of frost has passed.
- Succession plant every 3 weeks throughout the summer for a longer season of blooms.
- Surface sow seeds and cover with a thin layer of soil.
- Ideal germination temperature is 60-65 F.
- Plants prefer full sun.
- They are not picky about soil fertility, as they naturally grow in poor soil, but it must be well drained.
- Space plants 4-6 inches apart (the more space they have, the longer their bloom season will last!).
- Keep plants deadheaded to encourage continued blooming.
PESTS/SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Love-In-A-Mist does not have any notable pest or disease problems.
- Plants will reseed in the garden readily, but you can also save seed for next season.
- Allow the flowerhead containing the seeds to completely mature and dry on the plant, then clip off the flowerhead and place in a container.
- Working over the top of another clean, opened container, pop the flowerheads, breaking free the aromatic, small black seeds from their pods.
- The small, blackish seeds can be separated from the chaff by first screening and then winnowing.
- Allow seeds to dry down for 7 days and store over winter in a cool, dark, dry place.
