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Mignonette 'White'
Seed Packet

Mignonette 'White'

Reseda alba
Tall white mignonette is an age-old classic flower of cottage gardens, for ancient herbals described it as early as 1596. Once indispensable and now rare, it enhances all other flowers with its ethereal flower spikes of pure white that catch the light. It shares a sweet violet and raspberry fragrance with its close cousin Reseda odorata.
SKU #S1846
$3.50
Details
Approximate Seeds Per Packet
1500
Lifecycle
Annual
Annual Hardiness
Hardy Annual
Mature Size
1.5-2' h x 6" w
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained, neutral to alkaline pH
Season
Summer to fall
Color
White
Features
Great Cut Flower
Attracts Bees
SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Surface sow and press in lightly; requires light for germination.
Sprout Time:
5-10 days
Seed To Bloom:
8-12 weeks
Starting Indoors:
Not recommended.
Starting Outdoors:
Direct sow in early spring; fall to late winter zones 8-10.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Mignonette has a long history in gardens. Native to Egypt, it was said to be one of the flowers strewn in tombs to fragrance the eternal rest of the mummified. In the early 1800s, it was fashionable to possess a winter bouquet of mignonette fresh from the fields in the south of France. Reseda alba has tall spikes of fringed white flowers advertising an ambrosial scent that includes overtones of violet and raspberry that attract all the honeybees in the vicinity. Pinch tips, if desired, when plants reach about 6" tall to encourage branching and fullness. It will continue blooming in cooler summer areas until fall; afternoon shade is beneficial in hotter climates. Grow in cottage gardens and cutting gardens.
Final Spacing:
8"
Water Requirements:
Medium Water Use
Watering Details:
About 1" per week; do not overwater.
Soil pH:
Neutral to alkaline.
Fertilizer:
Mix about 2-4" of compost into soil prior to planting if soil is not rich. Feed monthly with a balanced organic fertilizer.
Diseases & Pests:
Avoid fungal leaf spots by placing in an area with good air circulation.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Harvest when 1/2 of the florets are open.