Love-in-a-mist ‘Albion Green Pod’

Nigella damascena

Features

  • Dryable
  • Easy to grow
  • Foliage & Filler
  • Medium producer
  • Suitable for containers

Description

While this plant looks quite fragile, it’s one of the hardiest early bloomers in the garden. Its brilliant ferny leaves and lacy, star-shaped flowers are framed by a delicate halo of fringed foliage. Creamy double flowers have delicate green veining and produce bright green seedpods in abundance.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 18 to 24 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 65 to 85 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: not necessary

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Plants dislike being transplanted and do best when direct-seeded into the garden in the fall or early spring. Seed can be tricky to start indoors, so pop seeds into the freezer for 10 to 14 days before sowing to speed up germination.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest flowers when they are three-quarters open, or harvest pods when formed. Fresh flowers have a vase life of 7 days; dried pods last indefinitely. Dry by hanging upside down in a warm, dark place for 2 to 3 weeks.

Details

Description

While this plant looks quite fragile, it’s one of the hardiest early bloomers in the garden. Its brilliant ferny leaves and lacy, star-shaped flowers are framed by a delicate halo of fringed foliage. Creamy double flowers have delicate green veining and produce bright green seedpods in abundance.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 18 to 24 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 65 to 85 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: not necessary

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Plants dislike being transplanted and do best when direct-seeded into the garden in the fall or early spring. Seed can be tricky to start indoors, so pop seeds into the freezer for 10 to 14 days before sowing to speed up germination.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest flowers when they are three-quarters open, or harvest pods when formed. Fresh flowers have a vase life of 7 days; dried pods last indefinitely. Dry by hanging upside down in a warm, dark place for 2 to 3 weeks.

Sources

How to Grow

How to Grow

Fabulous Foliages and Fillers
Easy-to-grow Hardy Annuals
Grasses, Grains, and Pods
Discovering Dried Flowers
Fabulous Foliages and Fillers
Easy-to-grow Hardy Annuals
Grasses, Grains, and Pods
Discovering Dried Flowers

Seed-Saving Mini Course

Learn how to save seed from zinnia, dahlia, and celosia

In our upcoming free, three-part video series, you’ll learn everything you need to know to save seeds on a home scale, including how plants are pollinated and isolation techniques to ensure varieties come back true, how to tell when plants are ready to pick and how to harvest the seeds, and how to properly dry, clean, and store seeds long term.