General Description/History

These flowers are annuals (ie grow new from seed each year) belonging to the buttercup family. Flowers have 5 to 10 petals and are borne at the end of slender stems, and are most commonly white, pink, pale blue or pale purple. The petals are flattened and frame the large style, ovaries and anthers at the centre of each flower. Leaves are thin and fern-like, looking very much like asparagus ferns. The seed capsules of N. damascena are also sometimes sold, as they are so unusual. They look like inflated pink-white balloons with 10 spikes forming a crown at the top, and a type of ‘crown of thorns’ at the base.

Love-in-the-Mist is grown in field plantations. Supplies come mostly from Victoria, NSW and Qld

What to look for

• Buy when the flowers are fully coloured but the petals have not yet flexed flat;
• Avoid bunches with yellow leaves.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool at all times.
2. Strip leaves from the lower half of each stem and wash stem ends thoroughly.
3. Recut at least 2 cm off each stem and place in water immediately.
4. Always use a preservative as this will help maintain open flowers.
5. Replace vase water with fresh preservative every day.

Interesting Facts about this Flower

Love-in-the-Mist is a very old flower, having been grown in gardens for over 400 years in Europe.

Botanical Name: Nigella damascena

Common Names: Devil-in-a-Bush, Love-in-the-Mist

Stem Length: 30 to 70 cm

Country of Origin: Southern Europe

Available Colours: Blue, Pink, Purple, White

Season: Autumn,Winter,Spring

Availability: May,June,July,August,September,October,November