How to Grow and Care for Mignonettes

Yellow yellow mignonette (*Reseda lutea*) is a plant species also called yellow rocket or yellow *reseda*. Yellow yellow mignonette belongs to the genus Reseda lutea within the family *Resedaceae*. It is widespread in Europe and native to Eurasia and North Africa. Yellow yellow mignonette has been used to make a dye called weld since ancient times.

White upright mignonette(Reseda alba) is a species that’s native to Eurasia and North Africa. Its unusual spikes of aromatic white blossoms make it a much-sought-after plant for ornamental gardens. People in Italy and Greece eat the shoot and leaves as a vegetable.

Before the introduction of synthetic dyes, dyer's weed was used to create a bright yellow dye. Most of the dye is found in the seeds of this biennial. It grows well in full or part sun and reseeds easily. The plant grows rapidly in its second year.

Rampion mignonette is a flowering plant that grows in disturbed and waste ground. This biennial produces upright stems adorned with waxy leaves and dainty white flowers. Bees and butterflies visit it in abundance due to its profusion of flowers.

This is an annual herb producing branching erect stems to 80 centimeters in maximum height. The inflorescence is a spikelike raceme of many flowers. The fragrant flower has six white to yellowish or greenish petals, the upper ones each divided into three narrow, fingerlike lobes. At the center of the flower are up to about 25 stamens tipped with large dangling orange anthers.