Miss Jekyll Blue Love-in-a-mist is a charming heirloom cultivar of Nigella damascena that produces delicate, cornflower-blue blooms from spring through summer. Growing just 12-18 inches tall with a compact 8-inch spread, this frost-tolerant flower reaches full bloom in about 84 days from seed and thrives in zones 6-11. Its airy, finely textured foliage and distinctive spurred flowers attract pollinators while the plant itself shrugs off drought and poor conditions, making it a low-fuss addition to sunny borders, cottage gardens, or cutting beds.
Full Sun
Moderate
6-11
18in H x 8in W
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Moderate
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The blue flowers are genuinely striking against the fine, almost feathery foliage that gives the plant its airy presence. You'll have blooms for months if you succession sow every few weeks, and once established, this heirloom essentially takes care of itself. The compact, upright habit fits seamlessly into small spaces, containers, or the front edge of a border where its delicate structure won't be overshadowed by heavier plants.
Love-in-a-mist is primarily grown as a cutting flower and garden ornamental. The blue blooms are excellent for fresh arrangements, bringing an ethereal quality to bouquets, and the distinctive seed pods that follow the flowers are prized by florists for dried arrangements. The plant itself adds textural interest and soft color to borders and cottage gardens.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Direct sow outdoors 3-4 weeks before your last spring frost, and again in early to mid-summer for continuous bloom. In zones 7-10, you can also fall sow for earlier spring flowering. Sow seeds where they are to grow, as Love-in-a-mist prefers not to be transplanted.
For cutting flowers, snip stems in the morning once the blooms are fully open and the spurred petals have unfurled. Cut just above a set of leaves to encourage branching and more blooms. For seed pod collection, allow flowers to fade and the distinctive seed pods to mature and dry on the plant before harvesting.
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