Nigella

Nigella

Nigella is an interesting garden plant that has a very distinctive appearance. The leaves are dill-like. The flowers are rather big, blue with a big protruding middle part with tentacle-like filaments (stamens?). I see it occasionally on the curbsides.

The seeds in some varieties are edible and known as black cumin or onion seeds (yeah, I know). Though the name cumin can refers to a couple of other plants. Nigella seeds are widely used in Indian cuisine.

Nigella is easy to grow in the garden. The plant is self seeding.

Nigella is part of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae).

Nigella seed capsule

Nigella has dill-like leaves