Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena)
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❤️ Why you'll love it
An easy-to-grow annual prized for its delicate, fern-like foliage and intricate star-shaped flowers. Blooming from late spring through summer, it produces shades of blue, white, pink, and purple, each flower surrounded by a fine mist of feathery leaves that give the plant its common name.
Thriving in full sun and well-drained soil, Love-in-a-Mist is low maintenance and readily self-seeds, often returning year after year to create natural drifts of colour. After flowering, the attractive seed pods provide additional interest and are highly valued for dried flower arrangements.
🌿 Details
How to grow Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) in the UK
Position & Light:
Grow in full sun in an open position. Love-in-a-mist is an easy-to-grow, hardy annual prized for its delicate, feathery foliage, blue (and sometimes white or pink) flowers from early to late summer, and attractive, inflated, striped seed pods. It suits cottage gardens, cutting gardens, borders, gravel gardens and pots, and is loved by bees and hoverflies.
Soil & Watering:
Plant in light, well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Nigella dislikes heavy, wet soil. Plant carefully, as it resents root disturbance. Water regularly after planting until established, then only in prolonged dry spells. It is fairly drought tolerant.
Feeding:
No feeding is needed. Rich soil results in lots of foliage and fewer flowers.
Pruning & Maintenance:
Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering, or leave some flowers to form the attractive seed pods. Cut stems for the vase when flowers are open, and cut seed pods for drying, as they last well in dried arrangements. Allow a few pods to ripen and self-seed for new plants next year, or collect seed to sow in spring or autumn. Remove plants at the end of the season. Tall plants may need light support in exposed sites.
Common Problems:
- Floppy growth: Caused by rich soil, shade or wind. Choose a sunny spot, avoid feeding and provide light support.
- Poor establishment: Resents root disturbance. Plant carefully.
- Self-seeding: Seeds freely. Remove seed pods if you do not want it to spread.
- Few flowers: Too much shade or rich soil. Choose a sunny spot with lean soil.
- Aphids: Can colonise young growth. Rinse off or encourage natural predators.
Supplied bare root, carefully packed with a moisture source to ensure freshness.
Plant height: approximately 10cm.
Please remember that most plants (except Evergreens) are dormant in Autumn/Winter so your order may have no leaves until Spring.
🪴 What Does Bare Root Mean?
Our plants have their full root systems but are carefully removed from the pot and soil before delivery.
The roots are wrapped in moist material and eco-friendly packaging to keep them fresh during transit.
It's less messy, reduces waste, and allows the plant to settle into your garden more easily once planted.
🌱 Sustainably Grown in Britain
Plants are sustainably grown and harvested at our nursery in the South West UK, without the use of pesticides or herbicides.
Packaged using biodegradable materials for an eco-conscious delivery.
📜 Certified & Compliant
We are APHA-authorized for Plant Passports: your assurance that our plants are healthy, pest-free, and meet UK plant health regulations.
🚚 Combined Postage & Fast Dispatch
No extra delivery charge when you buy multiple plants from us! Simply add all the plants you love to your basket and pay one flat delivery fee at checkout.
Shipped via UPS Express, so they are in transit for less than 24 hours: includes care cards tailored to each plant you order.
Orders are sent out at the beginning of each week to reduce time in transit,
see Delivery information.
📌 Planting Advice
Upon arrival, plant immediately in a cool, shaded spot (indoors or outdoors) and water thoroughly.
Once new growth appears, move to the final growing location.
💚 Our Guarantee
If your plant doesn't survive delivery*, just send us a photo and we'll send a replacement (or issue a refund).
No hassle, no worries.
* provided you accept the first delivery attempt