Nigella damascena 'Persian Jewels' – an explosion of colour in your garden

Nigella damascena , commonly known as lady-in-the-mist, is a beloved annual plant that has long enchanted gardeners with its airy, graceful flowers and decorative seed pods. Within this species, the cultivar 'Persian Jewels' stands out with its unique, multicolored blooms. With shades ranging from soft blue and pink to deep purple and white, it feels like planting a small jewel palette in your border. This versatile variety brings romance, vibrancy, and natural elegance to any garden, cutting garden, or flower meadow.

The flowers of 'Persian Jewels' are medium-sized and surrounded by fine, wiry foliage that hangs around the flower like a light cloud. This delicate lacework contrasts beautifully with the rich color palette, making the plant a real eye-catcher. Bees and butterflies are attracted to the nectar, making the plant not only aesthetically pleasing but also ecologically valuable.

Growth habit and location – simple and robust

Nigella damascena 'Persian Jewels' is an easy-to-grow annual plant distinguished by its reliability and long flowering period. It thrives in a sunny to partially shaded spot and grows best in light, well-drained soil. The plant tolerates dry spells fairly well, but regular watering promotes more abundant flowering.

Sow directly in the ground from March to May, or indoors from February for an early start. The first flowers usually appear from June and continue to bloom until August or September. Regularly removing spent flowers encourages new blooms, while allowing a few flowers to go to seed allows the plant to propagate naturally for the following season.

Flowering and ornamental value – a colorful spectacle

The unique feature of 'Persian Jewels' is its multi-colored flower palette, often featuring multiple shades of blue, pink, purple, and white on a single plant. This creates a vibrant, playful look in borders, cutting gardens, and flower meadows. The finely incised, graceful foliage adds texture and gives the plant an airy, almost dancing appearance.

After flowering, characteristic seed pods, typical of Nigella, form. These are both decorative and useful in flower arrangements and dried bouquets. The balloon-shaped seed pods retain their structure and color after drying and are very popular with floral designers.

Garden use – versatile and colourful

Nigella damascena 'Persian Jewels' is ideal for:

• Cottage gardens and country borders

• natural flower meadows and picking gardens

• borders with pastel or striking colours

• combinations with other annuals such as Cosmos, California poppies, sweet peas or sweet williams

• decorative dried flowers and cut flower use

Thanks to its vibrant color variation, 'Persian Jewels' is particularly well-suited for creating playful accents. In a flower border, the plant combines well with both soft pastels and deeper purples and blues for a harmonious, natural look.