Love-in-a-mist ‘Miss Jekyll Dark Blue’

Nigella damascena

Features

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

Description

This old-fashioned favorite produces loads of brilliant sapphire-blue flowers that glow in the garden and are well loved by the bees. As flowers fade, they are replaced by apple-green seedpods with distinctive maroon stripes. The striking pods make a wonderful textual accent to arrangements, either fresh or dried.

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

This old-fashioned favorite produces loads of brilliant sapphire-blue flowers that glow in the garden and are well loved by the bees. As flowers fade, they are replaced by apple-green seedpods with distinctive maroon stripes. The striking pods make a wonderful textual accent to arrangements, either fresh or dried.

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

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

Winter Mini Course

Learn how to start flowers from seed in this three-part video series

In our upcoming Winter Mini Course, you’ll learn everything you need to know to successfully start flowers from seed, including all of the necessary supplies, step-by-step instructions, special tips and tricks, and how to create a simple indoor seed-starting area.