How to Grow and Care for Love-in-a-mist

Love-in-a-mist, also known as Devil in the bush, Ragged lady

Love-in-a-mist thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, making it a low-maintenance choice for many gardeners. Special care should be given to avoid overwatering, as it can tolerate drought better than excessive moisture. Deadheading spent flowers can encourage a second bloom, providing visual interest throughout the growing season.

Watering schedule: Every week

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

Toxic to Humans

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Planting and Growing Love-in-a-mist

Toughness	High
Care Level	Medium
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every week
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	6-7
Planting Time	Spring, Early summer
Hardiness Zones	7-9
Toxicity	Toxic to Humans

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Varieties of Love-in-a-mist

Love-in-a-mist 'Miss Jekyll'

The love-in-a-mist 'Miss Jekyll' is an easy-to-grow love-in-a-mist cultivar that blooms in summer. It was named by Gertrude Jekyll, a prominent English horticulturist, after herself. The recipient of an Award of Garden Merit, the love-in-a-mist 'Miss Jekyll' is often grown for its reliability and hassle-free garden performance.

Love-in-a-mist 'Oxford Blue'

Love-in-a-mist 'Oxford Blue' is well-named since its flowers are colored the dark navy blue used by Oxford University. This is a darker shade of blue than the flowers of the parent plant and the showy flowers of this hybrid are double, having many more petals than the single flowers of the parent. This plant enjoys coastal climates and is a great addition to containers, beds, and borders.

Love-in-a-mist 'Miss Jekyll Alba'

Love-in-a-mist 'Miss Jekyll Alba' is bred from the Nigella plant in the buttercup family. The cultivar's name comes from the white flowers and refers to Miss Gertrude Jekyll, a well-respected author and garden designer. The plant has white flowers rather than the typical blue coloring, double blooms, and lacy, threadlike foliage on top to create the "mist" atop the flower.

Love-in-a-mist 'Albion Green Pod'

Love-in-a-mist 'Albion Green Pod' is a cultivar of Nigella damascena known for its large, double, white flowers that have distinctive green stamens. Foliage is dark green. The flowers are followed by bright green seed pods, giving it its name. This plant is favored for its early blooming season and its attractiveness to bees.

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The Toxicity of Love-in-a-mist

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More General Info About Love-in-a-mist

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Quickly Identify Love-in-a-mist

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Love-in-a-mist is an annual plant that thrives in cooler weather, and is known for its unique, showy flowers and ornamental seed pods. The plant typically requires planting in early spring, adapting well to average, medium-moisture, well-drained soil under full sunlight conditions. Its distinct blossoms and attractive seed pods make it a favorite for decorative purposes in gardens and floral arrangements. Love-in-a-mist is best recognized by its delicate, feathery foliage and the intricate, lace-like structure of its flowers, which can be a draw for gardeners and enthusiasts looking to add interesting textures to their plantings.