Nigella papillosa ‘Eclipse’ – Love-in-a-mist

A Nigella that is just a little different. 🤍

Nigella papillosa ‘Eclipse’ blooms with large, bright white flowers that contrast beautifully with the delicate green foliage. But the best part actually comes afterwards: after flowering, distinctive, almost black seed pods.

A real eye-catcher in the cutting garden, and one that gives you twice the pleasure: first from the flowers and then from the decorative seed pods. You can use them fresh in bouquets or let them dry for dried-flower arrangements.

'Eclipse' grows to approximately 90 cm tall and produces long stems, ideal for cutting.

Why I love this one

🤍 Large, pure white flowers
🖤 Distinctive dark to almost black seed pods
✂️ Beautiful as a cut flower
🌾 Also suitable for drying
🐝 Attractive to beneficial insects
🌱 Easy to sow directly

Sowing

Nigella is a hardy annual and does not like being transplanted very much. Direct sowing where it is to grow is therefore easiest.

Sowing: September–October or from February–April
Position: full sun
Height: approx. 90 cm
Flowering: summer, approximately July–September
Germination time: approximately 7–14 days

Nigella germinates best in cooler temperatures. For a longer flowering period, sow several times, leaving a few weeks between sowings.

Tip from the Garden Gnome: Try combining ‘Eclipse’ with soft apricot, pink and cream tones. The dark seed pods give a bouquet a little more edge and contrast.

In short

• Hardy annual
• Height: ± 90 cm
• Position: full sun
• White flowers
• Very dark seed pods
• Suitable as both a cut flower and a dried flower
• Sow in autumn or early spring
• Flowering: July–September