Nigella 'Love-in-a-Mist African Bride'

African Bride Nigella (Nigella papillosa)
A striking twist on the classic love-in-a-mist, African Bride offers crisp white, star-shaped blooms with dramatic dark, spidery centres. The airy, finely cut foliage forms a soft green mist around each flower, lending it a romantic, vintage quality both in the garden and in the vase.

As the blooms fade, they form sculptural black seed pods with incredible texture—making this variety just as valuable for dried arrangements as it is fresh. Easy to grow and beloved by pollinators, African Bride brings structure, contrast, and elegance to cottage gardens, mixed borders, and bouquets. Also known as Love-in-a-Mist, and Eclipse.

DETAILS:

QTY: 50

TYPE: Annual

DEPTH: Barely Cover

GERMINATION: 10-14 days at 16-18°C

SITE: Full Sun

PLANT HEIGHT: 18" - 28""

MATURITY: 65 - 85 Days

PLANT SPACING: 9-12"

PINCH: No

HOW TO GROW:

Direct Sow (Recommended): Sow seeds directly outdoors in early spring once the soil reaches at least 16°C. For continuous blooms and ornamental seed pods, sow every 2–3 weeks, 3–4 times throughout the early season. In areas with mild winters, fall sowing is also possible. Choose a location with full sun and well-drained soil. Light aids germination, so cover seeds very lightly with soil and keep evenly moist until germination, which usually occurs in 7–14 days.

Transplanting is possible but not ideal, as Nigella has a delicate taproot and dislikes being disturbed. If starting indoors, sow into biodegradable pots 4–6 weeks before the last frost and transplant carefully to avoid root disruption.

Pinching is not necessary. Plants naturally branch and produce a succession of blooms followed by intricate, decorative seed pods. Deadheading can prolong flowering, but if left to mature, pods can be harvested or allowed to self-sow for future seasons.