Nigella Mulberry Rose (Love-in-a-mist)
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Description
Nigella 'Mulberry Rose' Seeds
If you find the standard blue Nigella a little too "wild," let me introduce you to 'Mulberry Rose'. This stunning variety is a masterpiece of colour evolution. The paper-thin, ruffled blooms open a delicate, pale pastel pink, and as they mature in the sun, they deepen into a rich, vintage rose-berry tone.
Nestled in a ruff of fine, ferny foliage (the "mist"), these flowers look like antique porcelain. But the beauty doesn't stop when the petals fall. The centre of the flower swells into a magnificent, balloon-like seed pod striped in burgundy and green. These pods dry perfectly, providing architectural interest for winter vases and wreaths long after summer has faded.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Nigella damascena 'Mulberry Rose' is a Hardy Annual (H3/H4). It is a charming, low-maintenance choice for UK gardeners, known for its "self-sowing" nature—if you leave the seed pods to dry on the plant, it will often return in the same spot spring after spring.
The Colour Evolution: Unlike many flowers that fade in the sun, 'Mulberry Rose' actually darkens. The blooms start as a soft blush and deepen into a moody, dusky mulberry. This makes a single patch look dynamic as old and new flowers mingle together.
Wildlife Support: Listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, Nigella is a vital nectar source for bees in mid-summer. The complex, semi-double flowers provide a stable platform for pollinators to feed on.
🌱 Growing Guide
Nigella is one of the most reliable "scatter and grow" seeds, making it a favorite for both beginners and experts.
How to Sow:
Sow directly outdoors in September for early summer flowers, or March to May for a summer-long display. Scatter seeds thinly onto raked soil and cover lightly (about 3mm deep) as they germinate best with a light covering. Seedlings usually appear in 14-21 days.
Where to Plant:
They thrive in full sun or light shade. They are not fussy about soil and will even flourish in gravel gardens or poor soil. Avoid over-fertilizing, as rich soil encourages the plant to produce more green foliage (the "mist") and fewer of those beautiful mulberry blooms.
Ongoing Care:
Maintenance is minimal—Nigella has sturdy stems and rarely needs staking. If you want a continuous supply of flowers for the vase, deadhead the spent blooms regularly. However, if you want the striking burgundy seed pods for drying, leave the flowers to set seed naturally.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Botanical Name | Nigella damascena 'Mulberry Rose' |
| Common Name | Love-in-a-Mist |
| Plant Type | Hardy Annual |
| Hardiness | H3/H4 (Tolerates light frost) |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun / Part Shade ☀️ |
| Height | 40cm - 50cm |
| Spread | 25cm |
| Spacing | Plant 20cm apart |
| Flowering Period | June to August |
| Perfect For | 🍂 Dried Seed Pods 🐝 Bee Magnet 🎨 Vintage Themes 🌾 Filling Gaps |
| Seeds per Packet | Approximately 400 seeds |
🤝 Beautiful Garden Combinations
The antique pink tones of 'Mulberry Rose' work beautifully with soft, romantic partners from our range:
- ☁️ Cosmos 'Purity': The Fresh Lift. The clean white of 'Purity' brightens up the dusky pink tones of the Nigella, creating a light, airy, and romantic cottage garden border.
- 🌾 Briza Maxima (Quaking Grass): Texture Harmony. The nodding, locket-shaped seed heads of the grass echo the architectural balloon-shaped seed pods of the Nigella. Both dry beautifully for winter arrangements.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow in autumn or spring for dusky rose blooms from June through August.
🥧 Edible Seeds
The seeds of Nigella are edible and commonly known as Kalonji or Black Cumin. They have a subtle nutty, peppery flavour and are delicious when sprinkled on homemade naan bread or used to add a spicy kick to summer curries!
🏆 RHS Plants for Pollinators
Nigella 'Mulberry Rose' is listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list. Its complex, nectar-rich flowers are a vital resource for bumblebees and solitary bees during the mid-summer gap in the UK garden.
📖 Want more detailed growing advice?
View our Complete Growing Guide for Annuals →
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Delivery:
Delivery to mainland UK is calculated at checkout. For all other areas and large orders please ask for a quote. Orders will be sent by express next day delivery (DPD). They will be dispatched on a next working day service, with the exception of Ireland where it may take two days. Please allow up to 48 hours for delivery in the UK as the couriers may have already been and collected on the day you send your order in. Smaller orders for pouches, pockets, bags and pots may be sent via Royal Mail delivery. Please ensure you supply an email address and a mobile so you can be updated about your delivery. Should you have any problems with your delivery, please contact us at sales@naturalgrower.co.uk.Special Deliveries
Saturday or weekday morning deliveries can be arranged, but there will be a surcharge. Please contact us to request a price for either of these delivery services. If you need a parcel sending outside of the UK, please contact us for a quote.Returns:
If you are not completely happy with any product that you have ordered from us, you may return it to us in its original condition any time within 14 calendar days from the date of dispatch. Products must be returned in their original condition. Please contact us at sales@naturalgrower.co.uk to arrange a return. If you return a product by post, you will need to pay the costs of returning the product to us and obtain proof of posting.
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Gardening organically is a more affordable and long term alternative to using chemical fertilisers. Natural Grower products eliminate waste because the nutrients are slowly released to the plants as they need them. Over the long-term you save money because your soil health naturally improves, which in turn produces healthier, stronger, disease resistant plants. Chemical products may cost less financially in the short term, but they don’t provide any long-term benefits and the damage they do to the natural eco-system in the soil is costly.
Slow release for sustained growth
Organic fertilisers are broken down slowly by organisms in the soil to produce a more measured, consistent, natural release of nutrients. This results in uniform growth with strong stems and leaves, unlike chemical fertilisers which provide a sudden boost resulting in tall lanky plants. Stronger plants are more resistant to disease, and with the presence of mycorrizhal fungi to strengthen the roots, the plants, soil and fungi all work together long-term to create the perfect natural eco-system.
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The organic matter in Natural Grower will help keep your soil or compost in optimum condition, retain moisture over the dry summer months and improve the health and structure of your soil. The presence of natural Mycorrhizal fungi in our products enhances root growth, enabling plants to extract nutrients and absorb water more efficiently from the soil or compost. By using our products you will be supporting and enhancing the natural eco-system in the soil.
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