Annuals Dictionary: Nigella
Buttercup family
Ranunculaceae
Ny-jell’a. About 20 herbaceous annual species, mostly natives of the Mediterranean region.
Description
Leaves alternate, often of lacelike appearance because of finely divided, threadlike segments. Flowers blue or white, produced at ends of branching stems, each flower enclosed by much-branched, threadlike bracts growing from base. Petals 5-8, notched. Stamens indefinite in number. Pistils usually 5-10, separated at top, but united at base.
How to Grow
Easy to grow from seeds sown as soon as ground can be worked in spring; seedlings resent transplanting. Thin to 6-8 in. (15-20 cm) apart. Where winters are mild, sow seeds in fall in average, well-drained soil. Prefers cool weather.
Nigella damascena
Love-in-a-Mist ; Devil-in-the-Bush . 12-18 in. (30-45 cm) high. Flowers light blue, white, pink, rose, mauve, or purple, 1 in. (4 cm) wide, set in the midst of threadlike bracts. S. Europe. New ultra dwarf types are good edging plants; standard tall type can be grown for dried seed pods. Hardy annual.