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Nigella_damascena - L.

Common Name Love-In-A-Mist, Devil in the bush
Family Ranunculaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Stony, sunny positions.
Range Europe - Mediterranean. A rare casual in Britain.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Nigella_damascena Love-In-A-Mist, Devil in the bush


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wildfeuer
Nigella_damascena Love-In-A-Mist, Devil in the bush
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wildfeuer

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Blue, Pink. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late spring, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Nigella_damascena is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a fast rate.
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked. Normally used as a condiment[2, 27, 46, 100], it has a nutmeg flavour[148].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


Expectorant[148].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

An essential oil distilled from the plant is used in perfumery and lipsticks[238]. The seed contains about 43.5% fatty oil, consisting of 97% total fatty acids of which 30% is free fatty acid[240]. No uses of this oil are given in the report.

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Container, Massing, Rock garden, Specimen, Woodland garden. An easily grown plant, succeeding in any good garden soil, preferring a sunny position[1, 108]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are some named varieties[188]. Plants are fast-growing[188] and often self-sow if the ground is disturbed by some means such as hoeing[K]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[108]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[54]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Naturalizing, Suitable for cut flowers, Suitable for dried flowers.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow spring or early autumn in situ[1]. The autumn sowing might not be successful in harsh winters. Plants can be transplanted if necessary[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Nigella damascenaLove-In-A-Mist, Devil in the bushAnnual0.6 0-0 FLMHNDM312

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

50200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Apr 3 2015 12:00AM

Lovely flower, if you sow in the autumn they will grow through the winter if its mild, and hopefully seed earlier, I'm trying it this year and they made it through the winter. I'll let you all know when they set seed. I even have a few in my polytunnel for reference. Love the flowers and the amazing pods.

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