Reseda phyteuma aka Corn Mignonette

Reseda phyteuma belongs to the Resedaceae family. Its common names include rampion mignonette and corn mignonette. Its native range spans central and southern Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. It has become naturalized in Britain, where it is not native. It grows on cultivated land and ground disturbed by human activity. These habitats place it among plants of worked and open ground.

This small plant grows as an annual or biennial. It reaches about 1 foot (0.3 metres) in height. Its short life cycle means plants may last one or two years. The sources give no mature spread or species-level leaf description. They also give no details of its stems or fruit. Flowers appear from June through August. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers. The plant is also self-fertile, so it can set seed without another plant.

Grow it in a sunny spot with soil that drains well. Some shade suits it where summers are long and hot. It accepts sandy soil, loam, and clay, provided drainage is good. It prefers moist ground rather than a wet site. The listed soil range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. Cultivation guidance favours neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Plants For A Future describes it as easy to grow. It also reports that the plant is not frost tender. No precise hardiness zone is supplied.

Sow seed directly where the plants will grow in spring. Cover the seed with only a thin layer of soil. Autumn sowing can also work in places with mild winters. The source sets that guidance at winter lows above 14°F (−10°C). This sowing threshold is not a formal hardiness rating. Cultivated beds are a listed garden setting. Bees and butterflies visit the plant, giving it value in wildlife planting. Plants For A Future does not flag it as weedy.

The leaves have a recorded use as a cooked vegetable. They can serve as a pot herb, though the edibility rating is low. Plants For A Future lists no known medicinal uses or other uses. It reports no known hazards, but this is not a full safety assessment. The supplied sources give no specific pest or disease problems.