Nigella damascena

It grows to 20–50 cm (8–20 in) tall, with pinnately divided, thread-like,  alternate leaves. The flowers, blooming in early summer, are most commonly different shades of blue, but can be white, pink, or pale purple, with 5 to 25 sepals. The actual petals are located at the base of the stamens and are minute and clawed. The sepals are the only colored part of the perianth. The four to five carpels of the compound pistil have each an erect style.The fruit is a large and inflated capsule, growing from a compound ovary, and is  composed of several united follicles, each containing numerous seeds. This is rather exceptional for a member of the buttercup family. The capsule becomes brown in late summer. The plant self-seeds, growing on the same spot year after year.

 

Double form




 

Seed capsule




 

Dried seed-heads with seeds




 

Seeds

Water moderately, allowing the top 3cm to dry out between watering.

Nigella Damascena

Nigella damascena

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