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An armload of Love-in-a-mist Miss Jekyll Dark Blue
An armload of Love-in-a-mist Miss Jekyll Dark Blue
An armload of Love-in-a-mist Miss Jekyll Dark Blue seed pods
An overhead of Love-in-a-mist Miss Jekyll Dark Blue
A close up of Love-in-a-mist Miss Jekyll Dark Blue

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

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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.