Nigella | Love-in-a-mist

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Nigella – Love-in-a-mist

Nigella is the Latin name for the well-known Love-in-a-mist. Because the flowers are surrounded by a ring of fine feathery foliage, these flowers are very special.

The seeds of Love-in-a-mist are annual. This means they bloom for one season. They complete a full life cycle in a single growing season.

Love-in-a-mist planting

Nigella is very easy to grow. You can sow the seeds directly after the danger of frost has passed. This is around mid-May or June. They bloom from June to September. If you want the seeds to bloom earlier, you can start them in pots indoors. Nigella flowers are also suitable for containers. When planting the flower seeds, it’s best to space them 10 to 15 centimeters apart. This results in taller and sturdier plants. Make sure the soil you use is well-drained and not too wet. You should water Love-in-a-mist regularly to keep the soil moist. Love-in-a-mist is a self-seeder: they produce many seeds to regrow the following year. To prevent this, you can cut the flowers back before the seeds ripen, late in summer.

Different types of nigella

Love-in-a-mist flowers are perfect as dried flowers, cut flowers and also ideal for attracting bees and butterflies. The nigella plant has a long stem, making them great for cut flower arrangements. They also have an open center, which attracts bees and butterflies.

Nigella can also be used as a dried flower. You can do this by opening a large book and placing a piece of paper towel on both sides. Then close the book and gently replace the paper towel daily for about 7 days. If the paper towels are no longer wet, you no longer need to replace them. Then wait a few more days.

If they are not dry yet, the nigellas will bend slightly when held upright, so if that happens, you need to wait a few more days.

Combinations

Love-in-a-mist is perfect to combine with both bold and soft colors for low contrast. Zinnias have vibrant colors that go well with nigella. Yellow dahlias and white dahlias also pair beautifully with nigella. Dahlia tubers bloom in July and August until the first frost around November. To enjoy your garden even longer, you can plant narcissus bulbs and tulip bulbs in October or November. The narcissus will bloom first in February, March or April and the tulips in April or May. By planting all four types of flowers, you can enjoy a blooming garden for 8 months straight.