Nigella Flowers
Nigella Flowers Meaning And Facts
Name : Nigella Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Nigella, (Nigella damascene)
Nigella Description
Nigella is a genus comprising of 14 species of flowering plants in the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae), native to southern Europe, North Africa, southwest Asia and North America.
Common names for Nigella flowers include Love-in-the-Mist, Devil-in-the-bush, Lady-in-the-green, Fennel Flower and Jack- in-the-bush. The genus derives its scientific name Nigella from Latin for little black, referring to the seeds of the variety N. sativa which are indeed small and black, and are used for flavouring in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines.
Nigella is an annual flowering plant with thread like foliage above each blossom. Nigella damascene, commonly known as Love-in-a-mist is the popular ornamental variety, and earns the common name since this flower is nestled in a ring of multifid, lacy bracts.
Nigella plants range in height from about 15 to 30 inches depending on the variety. Single or double flowers varieties exist and each individual blossom is about an inch or two wide. Nigellas come in shades of blue, pink, purple, or greenish-white. The flowers are followed by eye catching balloon like seedpods with purple stripes, about 2 inches in size.
Nigella thrives in rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Nigella varieties propagate by seeds sown in autumn or by transplants. Seeds are sown outdoors about a week or two before the last expected frost or indoors about six weeks before the frost ends. Germination takes about a week. Dainty Nigella flowers appear in summer, from July to September depending on the variety.
The interesting names given to Nigella reflect the character of the flowers and leaves: These divine flowers, furnished with a lace collar of green fern like foliage, entice one’s fascination. Nigella is found growing wild among the corn in the southern parts of Europe and has been popular in English cottage gardens since Elizabethan times. Nigella is perfect for filling gaps in the flower border, or for short-term massed bedding. This hardy annual can easily be grown in the garden with very little care required and adds a touch of drama to your garden. Nigella or Love-in-a-mist lends an airy grace to the average garden; an excellent choice for flower beds and borders and often found self-sowing year after year.
The delicate Nigella blossoms in soft hues blend well with any flower arrangement. The seedpods are also used in flower arrangements in both fresh and dried forms.
Nigella is an Old-fashioned favourite cut flower and is ideal for fresh or dried flower arrangements. As cut flowers they are also valuable for the fact that they may be arranged easily in low vases. With a vase life of about 10 days, Love-in-a-Mist can create an everlasting impression in the heart of the beholder.
The most common, ornamental species is Nigella damascena, the favourite variety being Miss Jekyll. This variety grows about half a foot tall and blooms constantly from early summer till fall. Initially, Miss Jekyll was the only widely available variety of Nigella, and is still admired for its dependable masses of sky-blue blossoms that last for about eight weeks. More recent varieties include Persian Jewels which is a mixture of white, pink, lavender and blue flowers; while Persian Rose is pale pink. Other cultivars include Albion, Blue Midget, Cambridge Blue, Dwarf Moody Blue, Mulberry Rose, and Oxford Blue.
Nigella Meaning
The dainty, elegant Nigella symbolizes the meanings You Puzzle Me, Perplexity, Confusion, Delicacy, and Love Chains.
Nigella Mythology
The variety Nigella sativa is native to southwest Asia with finely divided, linear leaves. The flowers of this variety are delicate, pale blue and white, having 5 to 10 petals. The special feature of this variety is its seed which is used as a spice called fennel flower, nutmeg flower or Kalonji. This spice is part of the spice mixture called Panch Puran and is used both in the form of the spice mixture or by itself in countless recipes in Bengali, Middle Eastern and Indian cookery, especially in Naan Bread.
Kalonji has medicinal value as well and has been traditionally used for a variety of conditions and treatments related to respiration, intestines, kidney, stomach and liver function, circulatory and immune system support, as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antioxidants, anticancer, antiviral and for general well-being.
Fennel flower or Kalonji has religious associations and in Islam, it is regarded as one of the greatest forms of healing medicine available; the black seed is believed to have the ability to heal every disease except death.
It is believed that the common name Devil-in-a-bush, describes the nature and habit of the plant because "evil character is supposed to hide himself as much as possible from public view", just like the Nigella flower hides behind the lacy foliage.
