Nigella damascena Moody Blues (mixed)
A single-stemmed or branching annual to 50cm tall with finely divided, bright green leaves. In summer it produces flowers to 4.5cm across in a range of blue shades; these are followed by decorative, inflated seed capsules. Both the flowers and seed capsules can be used for floral arrangements. A good plant for pollinating insects
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Blue | Green | ||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Nigella are upright, bushy annuals with finely dissected leaves and solitary flowers with 5 blue or white, petal-like sepals and feathery bracts, followed by ornamental seed pods
- Name status
Trade
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun
Propagation
Propagate by sowing seed in situ in mid-spring or autumn
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Prairie planting
- Wildflower meadow
- Wildlife gardens
- Low Maintenance
- Banks and slopes
- Cut flowers
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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