love-in-a-mist
Nigella damascena
RHS Plants for Pollinators
USDA zones2 to 11
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterHandles moderate or wet soil
Size12 to 24 inches tall12 to 24 inches wide
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Habit
- Erect
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Bloom color
- Blue, purple, white
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) is an annual for borders, cut flowers, cottage gardens, and pollinator gardens. It grows well in cool weather and can ride out a light frost. This plant likes full sun and average to wet soil of most types. Blue, purple, or white flowers open from early to late summer. Bees visit the blooms, and the plant grows fast to 12 to 24 inches tall.
Pairs well with Ann Folkard crane's-bill, Sweet William, and California poppy.
Native range
Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and 13 more places. See all 17
Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, Baleares, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Kriti, Krym, Madeira, NW. Balkan Pen., Sardegna, Selvagens, Sicilia, and Türkiye.