Nigella damascena Oxford Blue

Nigella damascena Oxford Blue is a large, unique and dark variety with large, very double, spectacular flowers in intense midnight blue with a black heart and airy foliage. The delicate flowers then turn into original, round, parchment-like, quite dark capsules, adorned with very fine 'hairs'. You can sow this delightful selection in rockeries or sunny flowerbeds, without fear of disturbing neighbouring plants. It is an excellent flower for bouquets. Everything in this easy-to-grow plant is decorative, foliage, flowers and fruits.

Nigella damascena is an annual plant from the Ranunculaceae family, native to the Middle East, growing in uncultivated, rocky lands and along roadsides in the most inhospitable areas. This very hardy and fast-growing plant overwinters as a seedling to form a beautiful tuft of feathery foliage in spring, reaching 50 cm (20in) high and 30 cm (12in) wide. The Oxford Blue variety stands out for its large size and its large, very double, deep blue flowers with a very dark, almost black throat. Flowering occurs from May to August, depending on the sowing date. Its wonderful, slender petals surrounded by a lace collar are nestled in the foliage. They measure approximately 3 cm (1in) in diameter and are followed by the formation of brown, silky, round capsules with a large number of small black seeds.

Nigella damascena is a favourite of 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 flowerbeds where it lightens up the other blooms. It pairs well with bush roses, quickly fills empty spaces and allows for the creation of a colourful country-style decor with phacelias, Cerinthe major, sainfoin, California poppies, perennial flax, or wild chicory.