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

Wildlife-friendly

• 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

• 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