Is there anything more romatic than Love-in-a-Mist? Nigella is a cool flower (and arguably full season) workhorse. Nigella damascena and Nigella papillosa are equally gorgeous, with slightly different growth habit and flower type, stunning seed pods, and general whimsiness. The blue shades are truly blue, which can be tricky to find in the cut flower world.

Nigella doesn't mind growing in temperatures as low as 25F, even at a young age. Harden off and plant plugs shortly after arrival so that they don't become rootbound. Nigella can adapt to most soil types, but will thrive in a compost-rich, loose soil, like most plants.

Nigella is easy as pie to grow, but not always easy to start from seed. Once planted, Nigella establishes quickly, and if planted a few inches apart in a patch, will fill in the patch nicely. They are a lovely plant to fill in amongst bare spots in a perennial bed. If plants are left to go to the seed pod stage, expect to see lovely voluteers in your garden the following year. If growing for cutting, spacing at 6" will promote increased stem length. No pinching is necessary. Nigella really is the texture and color we look for both in gardens and arrangements, and can be planted all season long. They will always do best with a cool start.

Cut the entire plant at once for ease of harvest. Nigella is a tangly, feathery, delicately beautiful plant, so single stem harvest doesn't suit it well. Clean foliage off stem. Cut stems should be placed immediately into cold water for hydration, and the use of a floral preservative (like Chrysal) is recommended for increased vase life.