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Summary

Bloom Color: Blue, Pink. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late spring, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.

Physical Characteristics

Nigella damascena is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a fast rate.
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Oil Seed
Edible Uses: Condiment Oil

Seed - raw or cooked. Normally used as a condiment[2, 27, 46, 100], it has a nutmeg flavour[148].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Expectorant

Expectorant[148].

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Other Uses

Essential Oil

An essential oil distilled from the plant is used in perfumery and lipsticks[238]. The seed contains about 43.5% fatty oil, consisting of 97% total fatty acids of which 30% is free fatty acid[240]. No uses of this oil are given in the report.

Special Uses

Scented Plants

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Container, Massing, Rock garden, Specimen, Woodland garden. An easily grown plant, succeeding in any good garden soil, preferring a sunny position[1, 108]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are some named varieties[188]. Plants are fast-growing[188] and often self-sow if the ground is disturbed by some means such as hoeing[K]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[108]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[54]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Naturalizing, Suitable for cut flowers, Suitable for dried flowers.

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - sow spring or early autumn in situ[1]. The autumn sowing might not be successful in harsh winters. Plants can be transplanted if necessary[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal
Nigella arvensis	Wild Fennel	Annual	0.3	-	LMH	N	DM	2	0
Nigella orientalis	Yellow Fennel Flower	Annual	0.3	-	LMH	N	DM	2	0
Nigella sativa	Black Cumin	Annual	0.4	-	LMH	N	DM	3	3

Expert comment

Author

Botanical References

50200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


	Apr 3 2015 12:00AM

Lovely flower, if you sow in the autumn they will grow through the winter if its mild, and hopefully seed earlier, I'm trying it this year and they made it through the winter. I'll let you all know when they set seed. I even have a few in my polytunnel for reference. Love the flowers and the amazing pods.

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Nigella damascena - L.