Collection: Love In a Mist Seeds

what we love about love-in-a-mist

Love-in-a-mist will have you believing that fairies are real. These flowers look like they belong in another realm with their frilly petals and wispy foliage. Also called by its Latin name, Nigella, love-in-a-mist is native to the Mediterranean, but this annual wildflower is well-adapted to many regions of the world.

Pollinators will love the addition of this heirloom flower to your garden. Love-in-a-mist is easy to grow and maintain, whether in a container garden or the field. Just be sure to keep this treasure close so you can enjoy its beautiful jewel-toned blooms all season long. The most common blooms come in shades of blue and lavender, but Eden Brothers has a yellow variety available, Love-In-A-Mist Transformer. Hardy in zones 4 through 9, love-in-a-mist is a low-maintenance plant that will make a home nearly anywhere, and this vigorous seeder is sure to come back year after year.

planting love-in-a-mist seeds

Love-in-a-mist prefers to be direct seeded once all danger of frost is past. Plant in the spring in colder climates, but in zones 8 and 9 love-in-a-mist overwinters well, so gardeners in these zones can plant in autumn for the earliest blooms. Either way, make sure soil temperature is at least 60°F before sowing love-in-a-mist. For best results, choose a site that gets full sun, but love-in-a-mist can also tolerate partial shade. Amend the soil with compost and sand to be sure that the site is fertile and drains well.

Direct sow love-in-a-mist seeds on the surface of the soil and gently rake them in. Try not to cover the seeds too deeply, as they need light to germinate. Be patient, as love-in-a-mist can take up to three weeks to germinate. Once the seedlings have begun to grow their second set of true leaves, thin the plants to about eight inches apart to allow them room to expand. If given the proper spacing, love-in-a-mist plants can grow up to two feet tall!

While love-in-a-mist seed pods are adorable, deadheading spent flowers will prolong bloom time. To get the most out of your love-in-a-mist plants, order a few extra seeds and plan on succession planting a new crop every three weeks to extend the bloom window of these cottage garden beauties.

decorative uses of love-in-a-mist

Love-in-a-mist flowers and foliage add an enchanting component to cut flower bouquets and arrangements. Allow the seed pods to dry on the plant and you’ll have another textural element to work with as well! Love-in-a-mist is an excellent flower for drying. Harvest the seed pods once stripes are visible, bunch together, and hang upside down to dry. Wrap the seed pods in a brown paper bag to catch falling seeds.

Trust us—once you grow love-in-a-mist once, you’ll look forward to these dainty blooms year after year. While it's so hard to choose a favorite variety, we are in love with Miss Jekyll Double Mix for this heirloom’s feathery flowers in shades of blue, pink, and white. For more information about planting, growing, and harvesting love-in-a-mist seeds, see the Love-In-A-Mist Seeds Planting Guide.