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Ranunculaceae
Love-in-a-Mist
Nigella damascena
Perplexity, harmony, kisses, delicate love.
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Genus
- Nigella
- Native to
- Southern Europe, North Africa, Western Asia
- Bloom season
- Late Spring, Early Summer
- Type
- annual
- Height
- 30–60 cm
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil
- Well-drained, average
- Water
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- 2–11 (annual)
- Lifespan
- Annual
Did you know
- The 'mist' in love-in-a-mist is the cloud of finely dissected, thread-like leaves surrounding each flower — like a green halo.
- After blooming, love-in-a-mist produces dramatic balloon-like seed pods that are popular in dried flower arrangements.
- A close relative, Nigella sativa, produces the black 'nigella seeds' (kalonji) used as a spice in Middle Eastern, Indian, and North African cuisine.
- Old English nicknames include 'devil-in-a-bush,' 'Jack-in-prison,' and 'lady-in-the-green' — all referring to the flower hidden among the misty foliage.
- Love-in-a-mist self-sows generously and will return year after year in the same spot once established.