Love-in-a-mist ‘Starry Night Mix’

Nigella papillosa

Features

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

Description

Mix includes ‘African Bride’, ‘Delft Blue’, and ‘Midnight’

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. When left on the plant, the flowers form dramatic black seedpods which add a unique textural element to any bouquet. This is a mix of my favorites including ‘Delft Blue’, ‘Midnight’, and ‘African Bride’, which produce lavender-dusted, royal blue, and white blooms, all with spidery black centers.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 18 to 28 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

Mix includes ‘African Bride’, ‘Delft Blue’, and ‘Midnight’

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. When left on the plant, the flowers form dramatic black seedpods which add a unique textural element to any bouquet. This is a mix of my favorites including ‘Delft Blue’, ‘Midnight’, and ‘African Bride’, which produce lavender-dusted, royal blue, and white blooms, all with spidery black centers.

Details

Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 18 to 28 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

Fall Mini Course

Learn how to successfully dig, divide & store dahlias for an abundance of blooms year after year

In our free, three-part video series, you’ll learn how and when to dig up your dahlia tuber clumps, how to divide dahlias to multiply your stock, and how to successfully store dahlias for an abundance of blooms year after year.