Albion Black Pod Love-in-a-mist is a striking cultivar of Nigella damascena that delivers delicate, intricate flowers alongside ornamental seed pods that deepen to an arresting ebony black as they mature. Growing just 12-18 inches tall with a compact 12-inch spread, this frost-tolerant flower thrives across zones 2-10 and blooms reliably from spring through summer, reaching full flower about 84 days from seed. The plant's airy foliage and feathery flowers are beloved by pollinators, while its architectural seed pods extend the garden's visual interest well beyond the flowering season.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-10
18in H x 12in W
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Moderate
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The black seed pods are the real draw here, they start out pale and gradually deepen to a dramatic charcoal that catches light beautifully in late summer and fall. This cultivar combines the delicate, almost fairy-like flowers that love-in-a-mist is famous for with seed heads that rival ornamental grasses for seasonal drama. Growing a compact, manageable 12-18 inches tall, it fits seamlessly into borders, containers, or cottage gardens without sprawling, and once established it handles drought remarkably well.
Albion Black Pod Love-in-a-mist is grown primarily as an ornamental flower, valued for both its delicate spring and summer blooms and its distinctly colored seed pods. The feathery foliage and intricate flowers attract pollinators throughout the growing season, and the mature black seed pods are prized by gardeners and florists for dried arrangements and late-season garden interest.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Direct sow seeds outdoors 3-4 weeks before your last spring frost, and again in early to mid-summer for continued blooms through fall. In zones 7-10, you can also fall sow for early spring flowers the following year. Seeds germinate best between 55-70°F.
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