Nigella Flower Several species are grown as ornamental plants in gardens.   Nigella damascena has been grown in English cottage gardens since Elizabethan times, commonly called love-in-a-mist.    Nigella hispanica is a taller species with larger blue flowers, red stamens, and grey leaves.    Nigella seeds are self-sowing if the seed pods are left to mature. The dried seed capsules are often used in flower arrangements.