Combine ornamental value with pollinator power with our first #QGrow guide
Grow along with us, Nigella and Snakehead Fritillary
💙 Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist)
This charming cottage garden annual is perfect for beginner growers — delicate blue flowers surrounded by feathery foliage. It’s not only beautiful but also very easy to grow and save seeds from.
How to Grow
When to sow: March-May, or August-September for an early display next year.
Where: Direct into the soil - Nigella dislikes transplanting. Choose a sunny, well-drained spot.
How: Scatter seed thinly, cover lightly with soil, and water gently. Plants will flower in late spring to summer.
Seed Saving
One of Nigella’s joys is its decorative seed pods. Allow the pods to dry on the plant, then collect the seeds by gently crushing the papery cases. Store in a labelled paper envelope somewhere cool and dry - you’ll have plenty for next year and some to share at #QGrow seed swaps.
In the Kitchen
The seeds of Nigella sativa (a close relative, often called black cumin or kalonji) are widely used in cooking. While ornamental Nigella (Nigella damascena) isn’t usually grown as a culinary herb, its seeds are edible and can be used sparingly to add a peppery, nutty flavour to breads, curries, or sprinkled over roasted vegetables.
🪻 Snake’s Head Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris)
With its striking chequered petals in purple and white, the Snake’s Head Fritillary is one of Britain’s most distinctive wildflowers. It’s also native to the UK — often found in damp meadows and woodland edges.
How to Grow
When to plant: Bulbs in autumn (September–November), or sow fresh seed outdoors in autumn for natural germination.
Where: Prefers moist, humus-rich soil in dappled shade or grassland.
How: Plant bulbs 8–10cm deep and 10cm apart. Seeds are slower, taking a few years to flower, but worth it for naturalising.
Why Grow It?
Provides early spring nectar for pollinators.
Supports biodiversity by reintroducing a once-declining native species.
Naturalises well in wildlife-friendly gardens and community spaces.
🌍 Why These Plants for #QGrow?
Nigella and Snake’s Head Fritillary are perfect examples of how gardening can be:
Beautiful – eye-catching flowers that lift allotment and garden spaces.
Practical – Nigella offers easy seed saving and even culinary uses.
Wildlife-friendly – Snake’s Head Fritillary supports pollinators and restores a native wildflower to our landscapes.
By choosing plants like these, we make our spaces more sustainable, resilient, and connected to nature.
👉 Watch our first #QGrow Grow Along video to see how to get started, and don’t forget to share your own progress with us on social media using #QGrow. Together we can grow, learn, and rewild our community one seed at a time.