Yellow mignonette
Reseda lutea · Resedaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant yellow mignonette: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous, blue-green
- Flowering
- April to September, yellow-green flowers
- Adult size
- 16 to 32 inches in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Good, down to 5 °F
- Origin
- Mediterranean and Middle East
- Soil type
- Limestone, well-drained, poor to medium
Care
Light
Place your mignonette in full sun for optimal flowering. Sunny exposure encourages flower production and strengthens the plant. Partial shade situations are tolerable but produce fewer flowers.
Watering
Water moderately and let the soil dry partially between waterings. Mignonette tolerates drought well once established. Avoid excess water which promotes rot.
Soil
Prepare well-drained soil, ideally limestone or neutral. Mignonette prefers poor to medium soil: excessive enrichment reduces flowering. Adding gravel or sand improves drainage.
Fertilizer
A moderate application of balanced fertilizer in spring is sufficient. Too much nitrogen can harm flowering in favor of foliage. Avoid over-fertilizing.
Pruning and cutting
Pinch young plants to encourage branching. Remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming. Since this plant is annual or biennial, little structural pruning is needed.
Diseases and pests
Mignonette is generally hardy. In overly humid conditions, watch for rot. Aphids may occasionally infest it: a simple spray of water usually eliminates them.
Did you know?
Mignonette was long used for dyeing, particularly to obtain a beautiful yellow hue highly prized in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Its malodorous yet nectar-rich flowers attract bees and butterflies, making it a valuable plant for flowering gardens. Its Latin name 'Reseda' comes from the Latin verb 'resedare', meaning 'to soothe', as it was once used for its supposed soothing properties.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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- Rampion mignonetteReseda phyteuma
- White mignonetteReseda alba
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- Pedunculate oakQuercus robur
- GrapevineVitis vinifera
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.