Nigella damascena Moody Blues - seeds

Nigella damascena Moody Blues is an adorable mix of blue nigella, composed of spectacular double flowers in a range of bicolour or pure shades, from celestial blue to dark blue, on airy foliage. The delicate flowers then transform into unique seed heads, in the form of round, parchment-like capsules adorned with very fine 'hairs'. You can sow this selection of charming annuals in rockeries or sunny borders, without worrying about disturbing neighbouring plants. It is an excellent flower for bouquets. Foliage, flowers, seeds, everything is decorative in this easy to grow plant!

Nigella damascena is an annual plant from the buttercup family, native to the Middle East, growing in uncultivated, rocky lands and along roadsides in the most inhospitable soils. Very hardy and fast-growing, this plant spends the winter as a seedling and forms a beautiful feathery foliage clump, like fennel, in spring, reaching a height of 50 cm (20in) and a width of 30 cm (12in). The Moody Blues variety is a selection of double, bicolour or pure colour flowers, in a whole range of blue shades, from the palest to the deepest. Flowering takes place from May to August, depending on the sowing date. Its wonderful flowers, with slender petals surrounded by a lace collar, are nestled in the foliage. They measure about 3 cm (1in) in diameter and are followed by silky, round seed capsules, brownish-pink at maturity, containing a large number of small black seeds.

Nigella damascena is a favourite in cottage gardens, aptly named 'Love in a Mist' and one of the easiest plants to grow in well-drained soils. It is perfect everywhere: in natural gardens, rockeries, and perennial borders where it lightens the flowering display. It pairs well with bush roses. It quickly fills empty spaces and allows you to create a colourful countryside composition with phacelias, Cerinthe major, sainfoin, Californian poppies, perennial flax, or wild chicory.