Nigella damascena aka Love In A Mist

Nigella damascena, or love-in-a-mist, belongs to the buttercup family. This annual grows upright and forms a bushy plant. Its native range spans Macaronesia and the Mediterranean to northwestern Iran. People grow it in gardens far beyond that range. It has spread into Britain and parts of North America. It grows fast and suits cool growing seasons.

Garden plants reach about 1–2 feet [0.3–0.6 m] tall. They spread about 1–1.6 feet [0.3–0.5 m] wide. RHS gives a height limit of 1.6 feet [0.5 m]. Useful Tropical Plants reports heights up to 2.5 feet [0.75 m]. Bright green leaves split into fine, threadlike lobes. They grow along smooth green stems, which may branch. The stems have a round shape and slight grooves. Leaves reach about 0.25 feet [0.08 m] long.

Pale blue flowers sit within a ring of finely cut bracts. Each bloom spans about 0.13 feet [0.04 m]. Five petal-like sepals surround small petals and many stamens. Plants flower from late spring into summer. Missouri Botanical Garden lists June through August as the bloom season. Bees visit the flowers and pollinate them. Swollen seed capsules follow the blooms and hold black seeds. These egg-shaped pods have horns and a bristly surface. Gardeners cut the flowers for fresh displays. They also dry the pod-bearing stems for indoor arrangements.

Give this plant full sun and soil that drains well. It accepts clay, loam, sand, and chalk soils. Steady moisture supports its growth, though RHS allows dry to moist conditions. Sow seeds where the plants will grow; they dislike transplanting. Spring and autumn sowings are both options. Autumn seedlings may need cover through winter. RHS assigns H3 hardiness, while US sources list USDA zones 2–11. Those zones describe where gardeners can grow this annual. Beds, borders, cottage gardens, and pots all suit it. Removing old flowers can extend bloom but prevents seed pods. Major pest and disease troubles are uncommon.

Plants can seed themselves and escape into disturbed ground. Useful Tropical Plants reports weeds there, but no invasion of native habitats. PFAF lists raw or cooked seeds as a spice. It describes their taste as nutmeg-like. It also records use to help bring up mucus. Essential oil has uses in perfume and lipstick. Safety reports differ: PFAF lists no known hazards. Useful Tropical Plants notes damascenine in the oil, with mild narcotic effects. These records do not establish that every plant part is safe.