Nigella papillosa 'Delft Blue'
love-in-a-mist
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, or general-purpose compost
- Rate of growth: fast
- Flowering period: June to September
- Hardiness: hardy annual
A beautiful annual with variably splashed and mottled silver-grey and blue petals, which form a disc-like base for the prominent plum-purple stamens. The flowers of 'Delft Blue' are excellent for cutting and after they have faded they produce decorative seedheads, which look great in dried arrangements.
Grow on under glass and plant out once all risk of frost has passed. Pinch out the growing tips to encourage bushier growth, and feed at regular intervals with a high-potash fertiliser throughout summer. Deadheading regularly will help prolong the flowering period into autumn. Support the plants with twiggy branches in exposed gardens.
Best sown in situ, 5mm deep. Prepare the seedbed by incorporating some composted organic matter, remove any stones and rake to a fine tilth. Sow in autumn if you want early flowers the following summer, or in mid spring for a later crop. Thin them out when they are large enough to handle allowing 30cm between each.