Yellow Mignonette

Yellow Mignonette: variety and characteristics

Yellow Mignonette (Reseda lutea) is an annual, nectar-rich plant of the Mignonette family (Resedaceae). Mignonette was very well known in the 19 century, though it has now lost much of its popularity.

One reason is that it dislikes being moved, so it should be sown where it is to flower.

Yellow mignonette grows best in sandy soils, in places exposed to full sun.

The flowering tops are used, cut about 30 cm from the tip, with the flowers and seeds of the plant.

An extract of the aerial part is applied, prepared from 6 teaspoons of the herb, cold-infused in 1/2 l of water for 8 hours.

The extract is sipped over 1 day. Externally it is applied as a poultice of crushed fresh or dried leaves, as a paste with water or milk.

It is used for loss of appetite, poor digestion, colic and constipation.

Mignonette looks modest but is a strongly scented, nectar-rich flower, smelling of honey and raspberries.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 85%
• Seeds per packet: 850–1150 pcs (0.2 g)
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: March and April; direct
• Flowering: July and August
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Yellow Mignonette

Yellow Mignonette seeds are sown in March and April. The plants flower in July and August. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Yellow Mignonette

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 0.5–1 cm
• Spacing: 20–30 cm
• Germination: 10–20 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

The plants usually grow to about 60 cm tall and have fragrant yellow flowers from July to August. Sow seeds from March to April where they are to flower. Yellow mignonette seeds should be sown in spring or autumn, either outdoors where they are to flower, or in seed trays lightly covered with compost. The evening fragrance is unforgettable – place it beneath a window or near a door.

Sow directly; it dislikes transplanting.

Flowering and uses

Flowers from June into autumn.

Frequently asked questions

When should Yellow Mignonette be sown?

The recommended sowing months are March and April. Sowing method: direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 850–1150 seeds, pack size 0.2 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 85%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.