Nigella Persian Jewels

Nigella ‘Persian Jewels’ is a treat for the eyes — with finely cut foliage, sculptural seed heads, and a soft mix of flower colours: pinks, purples, lilac, blue, and white. These drought-tolerant plants don’t need daily watering and are just as happy in a sunny flowerbed as they are picked for the vase. The seed heads can also be dried for later — but do leave some for garden wildlife.

There’s more to discover about Nigella damascena ‘Persian Jewels’ below.

🌸 Flowering: June to August — or from May if sown in autumn.

📏 Height: 45-60cm

🌿Annual

SOW
From March to May, scatter seeds where you want them to flower and barely cover them — about 3mm is enough. Germination usually takes around 3 weeks, and you’ll get flowers roughly 10–12 weeks after sowing — so expect blooms from June onwards.

If you’ve got a sheltered spot, try an early autumn sowing for flowers that arrive a few weeks earlier the following year. Or, for more control, sow in modules under cover in autumn (this helps avoid root disturbance), then plant out in spring.

GROW
Nigella are easy-going and happy in most garden soils, but they really shine in a sunny, well-drained spot.  Deadhead regularly and they’ll keep flowering for months.

If you want those pretty seed pods, leave some flowers to go to seed — or better yet, sow fresh seeds every 3–4 weeks for a steady supply of blooms all season long.

USES

FOR WILDLIFE

• Short tongued bumblebees (Bombus pratorum) aka Early Early Bumblebees, are some of the smallest and prettiest bumblebees—look out for their bright orange tails and lemon-yellow bands.
• Honey bees enjoy the abundant nectar and pollen.
• These rich blooms also attract various beneficial insects that support your garden’s health.

IN THE GARDEN

• Plant Nigella in drifts or clusters; mulch underneath to hold moisture and keep weeds down.
• For fresh cut flowers: pick early morning, strip some lower leaves, and stand stems in deep water for a few hours before arranging. They’ll last 7–10 days in a vase.
• To dry: wait till seed heads form, cut stems at the base, and hang upside down by string.
• Slugs and snails seem to avoid Nigella
• Deer and rabbits usually leave it alone.
• Drought tolerant

EDIBLE

• Nigella damascena seeds have an intense nutmeg-like flavour when finely ground and this spicy flavour is delicious used sparingly in condiments and sweets and more traditionally in bread and cheese—too much can upset your stomach.
• Harvest when pods start turning brown. Dry them on kitchen paper until papery. Shake out seeds carefully, clean out bits and bugs, and store in a cool, dark, dry place.

HISTORICAL

• Nigella damascena is native to northern Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
• The first evidence in Europe comes from the late Bronze Age (1500-1000BCE): an archaeobotanical study of a area in the Alps found preserved seed in mining spoil leading to the supposition that it had come with an influx of people or from an exchange of traded goods.
• Grown in English cottage gardens since Elizabethan times.

OTHER see caution below

• Nigella damascena revels in many names, including Love-In-The-Mist To Bird’s Nest, Spiderflower, Devil In The Bush, Blue Crown and Ragged Lady
• During Victorian times the floriography (language of flowers) had Nigella as a symbol of unrequited love—a bouquet with Nigella might mean rejection.
• The Roman physician, Dioscorides used Nigella seeds theadaches, nasal congestion, toothaches, insect repellent, and intestinal worms.
• The ground seed was used as a snuff
• The seeds, crushed into a paste, were used to banish freckles
• Nigella damascena is said more recently to have an expectorant effect in small doses (used to treat coughs), but the effect has not been clinically proven
• There has been little medical research specifically of Nigella damascene, it should not to be confused with N.sativa (black cumin)

Please Note: we do not promote the medicinal use of plants – guidance and information should be sought elsewhere.

SUITS

• Great self-seeder for wildflower meadows.
• Perfect for gravel and coastal gardens because it’s drought tolerant.
• Fits well in cottage style and informal garden plantings
• Wildlife gardens
• Cutting garden
• An easy filler for borders