The Sunny Annual Flower Whose Beauty Lasts Long After Its Blooms Fade

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Gardeners love annual flowers for their bright, sunny colors that can last all summer long. And the beauty of some of these plants can last even longer than that, as their blooms transform into striking seed heads. One such candidate that boasts a floral after-party is the romantically named love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena).

Also known simply as nigella (or devil in a bush), love-in-a-mist's crown-shaped flowers appear in shades of blue, but there are some varieties better described as purple, pink, or white. Its foliage, meanwhile, can help explain its common name. Specifically, love-in-a-mist's bracts – described as thread-like — are said to create a "misty" effect for the plant's flowers.

Nigella plants grow up to 30 inches tall with a spread of up to 24 inches, and they're also low maintenance. Once the summer blooms fade, bristly seed heads develop, and resemble the shape of small balloons or eggs. Size-wise, the diameter of these seed heads can reach 1 inch.

When you grow nigella, keep in mind that it's not worth buying as a seedling, as it doesn't transplant well. Instead, sow the seeds directly into the soil. As said, you can sow them in early spring, but it's also possible to do so in the fall, and some would recommend this approach. If so, you'll see blooms sooner the following year. Love-in-a-mist is extremely hardy, growing in zones 2-11. So, if you sow in the fall, know that your young plants will be okay.

As for nigella's sun requirements, plant it in an area that gets full sun. That being said, love-in-a-mist doesn't tolerate hot summer temperatures well; it'll do best in warm conditions with temps at around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. For soil, love-in-a-mist is adaptable to different types, as long as drainage is good. The soil should be consistently moist. (See if it's necessary to water your plants in the fall.)

You can start to see love-in-a-mist bloom in late spring, and once it does, its bloom time will last about four to eight weeks. After the flowers are spent, if you leave the faded blooms and the seed heads that follow alone, the plant will self-seed, which is part of nigella's low-maintenance reputation. However, if you want to prevent self-seeding, simply prune the seed heads away.

And, if you do prune them, you can use those bristly seed heads in your home décor. These are the exact sort of bundles you can find at Etsy and elsewhere for use in everything from bouquets to beautiful vase arrangements. (Check out more self-seeding flowers to plant for continuous color in your garden year after year.)