Reseda muricata Seeds | Mignonette
LATIN NAME: Reseda muricata
COMMON NAME: Mignonette, Reseda
Plant Profile
Among the ornamental and useful plants raised from seed, Mignonette (Reseda muricata) stands out as an upright, annual in the mignonette family (Resedaceae), native to arabian peninsula, north‑Africa and western Asia. All of this makes Mignonette a satisfying plant to grow and to get to know.
Science & Biotechnology
The species features in the wider study of the mignonette family, and its traits make it a useful subject for work on germination biology, cultivation and ornamental selection. Mignonette has a real and distinguished place in research. Nothing exotic is required: standard seed-sowing practice, done carefully, is enough.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Mignonette for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Mignonette is an upright, annual wildflower of waste ground and dry slopes, bearing small, greenish-white, fragrant flowers in slender spikes through the summer. Its fragrant flowers are a magnet for bees and other pollinators, and its slender spikes give a fine presence in cottage garden and cutting bed, while its sweet fragrance fills air on a warm evening. To raise mignonette, sow seeds on surface of pots of moist, open soil in a sunny, bright place, keep them gently watered, and grow little plants on in the sun. Mature plants need little attention in a well-chosen position.
Mignonette perfumes gardens with a honey-raspberry scent once cultivated for perfumery, and weld, its cousin, gave the finest yellow dye of the ancient world.
Growing from Seed
Mignonette is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. A simple routine works well: sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, maintain even moisture, and provide bright light. The seed responds well to a cool, moist stratification period, which helps it break dormancy evenly. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Mignonette repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
Related Reading
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