Love-in-a-mist African Bride Seeds - Nigella papillosa

Nigella papillosa or Love-in-a-mist 'African Bride', captivates with its exotic and glamorous charm. It bears flowers with snow-white petals set off by a boss of upright purple-black stamens, all nestled within a finely divided foliage. Stunning when planted in groups in borders, its large flowering stems carry very curious fruits all summer long that prove to be highly original in fresh or dry bouquets. This annual is easy to grow. Sow directly in place, in light soil and in the sun.

Nigella papillosa is a fast-growing annual belonging to the buttercup family (Renonculaceae). It is native to the Mediterranean region and can be found in cereal fields of hot, dry climates, on sandy loam or clay loam soils in semi-arid regions. 'African Bride' is a perfectly original variety. It produces sturdy, branched stems, about 90 cm high, carrying many leaves that are finely divided into linear strips. Flowering takes place from June to September, depending on when the seeds were sown. The flowers are rather large, measuring between 30 and 50 mm in diameter. They start off yellowish with greenish veins, then blossom unfolding a row of pure white petals that bow towards the ground and from which a feathery bouquet of very dark stamens emerges. The flowering is melliferous and nectar-rich. The fruit is a fairly large capsule, topped by horizontally spreading styles. It contains smooth, trigonal, grey-brown seeds.

Being one of the plants commonly cultivated in monastic gardens, the Damascus nigella, so aptly named by the English 'Love-in-a-mist', is one of the easiest plants to grow in well-drained soils. It is charming and perfect everywhere and goes well with all the other plants: in natural gardens, rock gardens, perennial beds, where it contrasts beautifully with coarse textured plants. It can also be combined with shrub roses, old roses, bushes or botanical roses. Love-in-a-mist colonizes open spaces in record time and can quickly create a colourful, rural setting with Lady phacelia, Honeywort, sainfoins, Californian poppies, perennial flax, rosemary or wild chicory. Combined with other blue or pink flowers, love-in-a-mist 'African Bride' in allows one to create very elegant bouquets.