Mulberry Rose Love-in-a-mist is a captivating heirloom annual that transforms any garden into an ethereal landscape with its enchanting blend of rose, blush, and ivory blooms nestled in delicate, feathery foliage. This cultivar of Nigella damascena reaches 12 to 18 inches tall and flowers within 84 days from seed, blooming reliably from spring through summer across zones 2 through 11. After the flowers fade, the spent blooms develop into unusual inflated seed pods that dry beautifully for arrangements, extending its garden value well beyond the blooming season.
8
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
18in H x 12in W
—
High
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The lacy, mist-like foliage that gives love-in-a-mist its romantic name creates a cloud-like backdrop for the rose and blush-toned flowers, which bloom prolifically throughout spring and summer. Once flowering ends, the ornamental seed pods that follow are among the most distinctive features of any garden flower, transforming the plant into a stunning dried flower even as it stands in the border. Remarkably easy to grow in zones 2 through 11, it tolerates frost, handles drought with aplomb, and attracts pollinators abundantly without demanding fussy care or rich soil.
Mulberry Rose Love-in-a-mist is grown primarily as an ornamental flower for fresh arrangements and dried displays. The rose and blush blooms add elegant color to spring and summer bouquets, while the inflated seed pods that follow are prized for dried flower arrangements, wreaths, and long-lasting everlasting flower work. Gardeners also cultivate this variety for its ability to fill garden beds and borders with romantic, cottage-garden charm while simultaneously attracting bees and other pollinators.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in early spring, 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost. You can also sow in early to mid-summer for continued blooms into fall. In zones 7 through 10, fall sowing is an option. Press seeds into the soil at a depth of 1/16 inch; they will sprout in 7 to 21 days when soil temperatures are between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix 1 to 2 inches of compost into the planting area before sowing to improve soil structure and fertility.
Allow flowers to fade naturally on the plant if you want to collect the ornamental seed pods, which are the main attraction after bloom. Simply cut the mature pods from the stems once they have fully inflated and begun to dry; they will continue hardening off the plant and can be stored indefinitely for dried arrangements.
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