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A handful of Love-in-a-Mist Transformer
A handful of Love-in-a-Mist Transformer
A bunch of Love-in-a-Mist Transformer

Love-in-a-mist ‘Transformer’

Nigella orientalis

Features

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

Description

This unique novelty deserves a spot in every flower arranger’s garden. Plants have airy, wispy foliage and feature small, golden-yellow flowers that remind us of Clematis tangutica. Petals turn down to show off a wild seedpod that curls into the shape of a court jester’s hat. These fun pods are great for wearables and dry well for crafting.

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

This unique novelty deserves a spot in every flower arranger’s garden. Plants have airy, wispy foliage and feature small, golden-yellow flowers that remind us of Clematis tangutica. Petals turn down to show off a wild seedpod that curls into the shape of a court jester’s hat. These fun pods are great for wearables and dry well for crafting.

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

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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.