The Nigella Flower Seeds bear an amazingly unique blossom and is most often known as Love-in-a-Mist, but is sometimes called Devil in the Bush, though for no good apparent reason that we can figure out! These straw-like blossoms appear within a tangled, ferny, fennel-looking cradle, giving this flower the appearance of having a light mist all around it. In addition to the “mist”, each blossoms has a plethora of green stamens topped by elongated anthers, all of which are surrounded by very tiny, tube-shaped mini-flowers of a darker color, those also having minute stamens and anthers to make them look “misty”. When you have dozens of blossoms in bloom at one time, the effect is rather stunning. And the show doesn’t stop there! The seed pods of Love-in-a-Mist are just as attractive, being somewhat inflated and different colors depending upon the variety you grow.
Nigella, pronounced nye-JELL-uh, has been grown in Cottage Gardens since the Elizabethan period, adding fascinating visual curiosity, regardless the season. Grow in and amongst broader-leaved plants for architectural contrast or as a filler for mixed plantings and containers. The flowers are long-lived as cut flowers, while the seed pods can be used, once dried, whole or cut in half, in dried flower arrangements. One variety, Nigella sativa, is used in the kitchen, also being known as Black Cumin. Nigella will self-sow if allowed to do so, though not aggressively. Highly adaptable, grow Nigella in full sun to partial shade and in almost any soil, as long as it is well-drained; Nigella does not appreciate wet feet and performs at its very best in the spring and the fall, not enjoying the hot days of summer, as do some of the sun-worshipping plants. As with most flowering plants, it takes a lot of energy to produce these pretty blossoms; we recommend a regular feeding with Espoma Flower-tone® or Jungle Flora, both of which are approved for organic gardening, are formulated for blooming plants and are safe for use around your family and pets, as well as being safe for the environment.
Each order of our fresh Nigella seeds is filled by hand, put into a resealable plastic bag and then placed into a labeled seed packet. It is our goal to provide our customers the best in freshness and quality.
