Nigella damascena 'Miss Jekyll Rose' – a romantic eye-catcher for any garden

Nigella damascena , better known in the Netherlands as lady-in-the-green, is a beloved annual garden plant that has enchanted generations of gardeners with its graceful, airy appearance. Within this species, the cultivar 'Miss Jekyll Rose' steals the show. While many Nigella varieties sport shades of blue, Miss Jekyll Rose stands out with its soft pink flowers, subtle variegation, and delicate, lacy foliage. This variety brings a touch of romance, nostalgia, and natural elegance to borders, flower meadows, cutting gardens, and cottage gardens.

The medium-sized flowers of Nigella damascena 'Miss Jekyll Rose' create a beautiful contrast with the graceful, thread-like foliage that seems to hang around the flower like a green cloud. This natural interplay of lines and the soft color palette create a fairytale atmosphere that attracts both people and pollinators. Bees and butterflies enjoy visiting this plant, making Miss Jekyll Rose not only beautiful but also valuable for local biodiversity.

Growth habit and location – effortless and strong

Nigella damascena 'Miss Jekyll Rose' is known for its reliability, robustness, and ease of cultivation. The plant thrives in a sunny to partially shaded spot and thrives in airy, well-drained soil. It can be sown in borders and natural planting beds, but also performs well in a flower-rich meadow or loose vegetable garden border. A spot where it has the space to sow itself often produces new plants in subsequent seasons – a wonderfully natural effect without any extra work.

Sow directly in the ground starting in April. If you want to enjoy flowers earlier, you can sow them under glass starting in March. The first flowers usually appear from June onwards and continue to bloom for weeks. Regularly remove spent flowers to prolong the bloom, or leave a few flowers on the plant for decorative seed pods.

Decorative seed pods – ideal for dried flowers and flower arranging

After flowering, striking, balloon-shaped seed pods emerge, a favorite of Nigella varieties. They dry beautifully, retain their shape, and are ideal for dried bouquets, wreaths, and flower arrangements. Whether fresh, dried, or in seed, the plant remains attractive. This makes Miss Jekyll Rose a valuable asset for creative gardeners and lovers of natural decoration.

Garden use – romantic, playful and versatile

Nigella damascena 'Miss Jekyll Rose' is at its best in:

• cottage gardens and country gardens

• natural flower meadows

• picking and vegetable gardens

• wild or informal planting

• borders with pastel shades

Combine it with cosmos, sweet pea, California poppies, sweet williams, or other soft pink and purple plants for a harmonious palette. But even in a more wild-looking setting, the plant can create a beautiful contrast with grasses or blue-flowering border plants.