Love-In-A-Mist
Nigella damascena
Photo: Wildfeuer · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Blue, mauve, pink, purple, and white blooms clothed in a lacy netting of greenery. Heirloom favorite for fresh or dried flowers. Balloon-shaped seed pods. Also known as devil in a bush.
Harvest
65-70d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
1–11
USDA hardiness
Height
12-30 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Love-In-A-Mist in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Love-In-A-Mist · Zones 1–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | June – July | — |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – April | March – May | — |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | February – April | — |
| Zone 1 | May – June | July – August | July – September | — |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
Succession Planting
Direct sow every 3 weeks starting 4–6 weeks before your last frost date, and keep going through mid-spring — but stop when daytime highs are consistently hitting 75°F, because later sowings won't have enough cool weather to bloom properly. In zone 7, that window runs roughly late February through early April for spring. A second round direct-sown in early September can carry the season into fall; those seedlings overwinter small and bloom the following April before summer shuts them down.
Don't plan more than 2–3 successions. Each sowing gives you maybe 3–4 weeks of bloom, so staggering does extend the show — but temperature sets the ceiling, not your timing.
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Wet. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Egg-shaped, horned seed capsules (to 1” diameter) that are covered with bristles. Stems with dried seed capsules make excellent additions to dried flower arrangements.
Type: Capsule. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Good Dried
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Storage & Preservation
For fresh blooms, store cut Love-In-A-Mist flowers in a cool location (around 65°F) away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Keep in a vase with fresh, cool water and change water every 2-3 days. Fresh flowers last 7-10 days. For preservation, air-dry by hanging bundles upside down in a warm, dry, dark space for 1-2 weeks—the seed pods and delicate netting dry beautifully. Alternatively, press individual blooms between parchment paper under heavy books for 2-3 weeks to preserve for crafts. Dried flowers store indefinitely in cool, dry conditions in airtight containers.
History & Origin
Origin: Macaronesia, Mediterranean to Iran
Advantages
- +Unique lacy foliage creates delicate, distinctive garden texture and visual interest.
- +Quick 65-70 day maturity makes it ideal for succession planting throughout season.
- +Decorative balloon seed pods offer extended ornamental value after flowers fade.
- +Thrives in poor soil with minimal care, making it genuinely low-maintenance.
- +Self-seeds readily, providing free flowers year after year without replanting effort.
Considerations
- -Dislikes transplanting and prefers direct sowing, limiting flexibility in garden planning.
- -Tends to bolt quickly in heat, reducing bloom period in hot climates.
- -Thin, delicate stems require staking or support in windy locations.
- -Self-seeding can become invasive if seed pods aren't harvested before dispersal.
Companion Plants
Marigolds, Calendula, and Sweet Alyssum are solid companions for Nigella because they attract the same generalist beneficial insects — hoverflies and parasitic wasps — that keep aphid pressure in check. Nigella's finely cut, fennel-like foliage also works well structurally alongside Cosmos and Cornflower in a mixed cutting bed; the open growth habits of all three let air circulate without one plant closing in on another. Dill pulls its weight nearby for similar reasons — draws beneficials, roots shallow, and doesn't elbow Nigella out.
Black Walnut is a hard no: juglone, the allelopathic compound it releases through its roots and leaf litter, will stunt or kill Nigella outright. Mint is a problem for a different reason — it spreads by runner and will physically crowd out anything with as fine a root system as Nigella within a single season. Sunflowers belong on the other side of the garden; they cast enough shade to cut Nigella's 6-hour light minimum, and some research points to their root exudates suppressing nearby annuals.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repels harmful nematodes and aphids through natural compounds
Cosmos
Similar growing conditions and bloom time, attracts beneficial insects
Sweet Alyssum
Attracts predatory insects that control aphids and other pests
Calendula
Repels aphids and whiteflies while attracting beneficial pollinators
Larkspur
Similar cottage garden aesthetic and growing requirements
Cornflower
Attracts beneficial insects and complements the delicate texture
Dill
Attracts beneficial wasps and ladybugs that prey on aphids
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth of most annual flowers
Mint
Aggressive spreading nature can overwhelm delicate nigella plants
Sunflowers
Allelopathic compounds in roots can inhibit germination of small seeds
Troubleshooting Love-In-A-Mist
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Seedlings damping off at soil level — stems pinch thin and collapse within the first 2 weeks after germination
Likely Causes
- Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungi — both thrive in cold, waterlogged soil
- Sowing too densely so air can't move between seedlings
What to Do
- 1.Don't water again until the top inch of soil is dry; Nigella hates wet feet at any stage
- 2.Thin to at least 4 inches apart as soon as seedlings have their first true leaves
- 3.If starting indoors, use a sterile seed-starting mix — not garden soil — and make sure trays drain freely
Spindly, flopped-over plants with pale green stems and widely spaced leaves, even in decent soil
Likely Causes
- Insufficient light — fewer than 6 direct hours per day
- Transplant shock from being moved after the taproot established (Nigella really dislikes root disturbance)
What to Do
- 1.Direct sow instead of transplanting; Nigella's taproot makes it a poor candidate for container starts
- 2.Move to a spot with full sun, or if the bed is fixed, thin surrounding plants aggressively to open up light
- 3.Don't stake — if it's flopping, the fix is more sun, not a prop
Powdery white coating on leaves and stems, usually appearing after plants have been in the ground 6+ weeks
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe nigrescentis or similar Erysiphe spp.) — common on Nigella late in the season, especially with warm days and cool nights
- Crowded planting that traps humidity around foliage
What to Do
- 1.Space plants to the full 9–12 inch recommendation — crowding is the main driver
- 2.If mildew appears early, a baking soda spray (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) can slow spread; it won't cure badly infected leaves
- 3.Late-season mildew on plants already setting seed pods isn't worth treating — let them finish and collect seed
Plants flower and go to seed in under 3 weeks, with small blooms and almost no show — sometimes by late May or early June
Likely Causes
- Heat-triggered bolting — Nigella is a cool-season bloomer that declines fast once daytime highs push past 80°F
- Sowing too late in spring so plants never get 6–8 weeks of mild weather before summer arrives
What to Do
- 1.Direct sow 4–6 weeks before your last frost date so plants establish in cool weather; in zone 7, that's late February to early March
- 2.In areas with short springs, try a fall sowing — direct sow in September, let seedlings overwinter small, and they'll bloom in April before heat sets in
- 3.Collect the inflated seed pods before they split (around days 65–70) if you want seed for next year; the pods are also worth cutting for dried arrangements
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Love-In-A-Mist take to bloom?▼
Is Love-In-A-Mist good for beginners?▼
Can you grow Love-In-A-Mist in containers?▼
When should I plant Love-In-A-Mist seeds?▼
What are the balloon seed pods used for?▼
Why is Love-In-A-Mist called Devil in a Bush?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.