Nigella damascena is an upright, bushy annual, that grows up to 50 cm tall. Pretty blossoms are borne atop stems, clad with finely-cut, feathery foliage that forms a mist around them. The flowers, blooming in early summer, are most commonly different shades of blue, but can be white, pink, or pale purple, with 5 to 25 sepals.
The flower is followed by attractive, balloon-shaped ‘seedpods’ up to 5 cm long and green with purple or bronze stripes.