Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella) in Zone 5a & 5b
Nigella damascena
Yes, love-in-a-mist (nigella) grows in zones 5a and 5b. Plant it outside Apr 26–May 3.
When to plant love-in-a-mist (nigella) in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 26–May 3 |
| Estimated bloom | Jul 10–Jul 17 (~75 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-2 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of love-in-a-mist (nigella) in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Agrostemma (Corn Cockle)Apr 26–May 3
- AstilbeApr 26–May 3
- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)Apr 26–May 3
- Basket-of-GoldApr 26–May 3
- Bupleurum (Thoroughwax)Apr 26–May 3
- CalendulaApr 26–May 3
Nigella, commonly sold as love-in-a-mist, is grown for its delicate, ferny foliage and pale blue or white blooms, followed by ornamental seed pods that are often as valued as the flower itself.
How love-in-a-mist (nigella) fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Love-in-a-mist (nigella) needs about 75 days from sowing to first bloom.
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella) planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | May 6–May 13 | Jul 20–Jul 27 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 16–May 23 | Jul 30–Aug 6 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 1–May 8 | Jul 15–Jul 22 |
| 5a & 5b (your zone) | Not usually | Apr 26–May 3 | Jul 10–Jul 17 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 11–Apr 18 | Jun 25–Jul 2 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Mar 27–Apr 3 | Jun 10–Jun 17 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 11–Mar 18 | May 25–Jun 1 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 1–Feb 8 | Apr 17–Apr 24 |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Not usually | Oct–Mar | ~75 days after direct-sowing |
Bloom dates are about 75 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for love-in-a-mist (nigella).
Where to buy love-in-a-mist seeds
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Miss Jekyll (Nigella damascena): The University of Wisconsin's horticulture program calls it the result of many years of careful selection and the most commonly offered nigella cultivar, which is a useful shortcut: it's what most seed racks default to, with soft blue, semi-double flowers, so you're unlikely to end up disappointed by an unnamed mix. Buy: Botanical Interests Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing love-in-a-mist (nigella)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
%20in%20USDA%20zone%205b%3A%20when%20to%20start%20seeds%20indoors%2C%20when%20to%20direct-sow%2C%20and%20when%20to%20expect%20a%20bloom.)
Pin this for later
Growing Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella) in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
Save to Pinterest