About
An upright, bushy annual to 50cm high, with fine, feathery foliage and slender branching stems. Flowers are slightly larger than other species, up to 7cm across, usually in shades of blue and purple, sometimes white, and are followed by decorative goblet-shaped seedheads with starlike styles.
About the genus
Nigella are upright, bushy annuals with finely dissected leaves and solitary flowers with 5 blue or white, petal-like sepals and feathery bracts, followed by ornamental seed pods
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Coastal, Patio and container plants, Prairie planting
Native toAzores, W & C Mediterranean
Care notes
CultivationGrow in any well-drained soil in full sun
PruningDeadhead to prolong flowering
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in situ in mid-spring or autumn. Autumn-sown plants may need some winter protection
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free