Mignonette

An old-fashioned cottage garden annual prized not for its modest appearance but for its intensely sweet, raspberry-like fragrance. Mignonette prefers cool conditions and may stop blooming in extreme heat, so plant early and provide afternoon shade in hot climates. Place near windows, patios, or along pathways where its delightful scent can be appreciated.

Direct sow mignonette seeds in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Scatter seeds on the soil surface and press in lightly—they need light to germinate. Keep moist until germination occurs in 10-14 days at 55-65°F (13-18°C). Thin seedlings to 8-10 inches apart. Mignonette resents transplanting, so direct sowing is strongly preferred. In mild climates, autumn sowing produces early spring flowers.

The Season Plate

Your Mignonette Year

Composed for Zone 7 · typical seasons · frost passes Apr 2, returns Nov 1

Sow Mignonette Mar – Apr, pick May – Aug. Set your climate below and every date on this plate re-times itself.

Sowing window

Mar – Apr

re-timed to your frost dates

Plant out

after Apr 2

once frost risk has passed

First picking

around May 4

≈ 50 days from sowing · 8 to per plant

Composed for —ColdTemperateMildWarmUse my locationUsed once to set your season · only the zone is kept

Week-by-week Mignonette reminders watering, feeding and pruning, timed to your dates

In the app

Frost alerts for your garden a warning before a cold night costs you the crop

In the app

Succession sowing dates so the picking never gaps mid-season

In the app

Keep my dates — free for 7 daysWe nudge you as each window opens · cancel anytime

Mignonette is a treasured old-fashioned annual grown almost entirely for its extraordinary sweet fragrance rather than its appearance. The flower spikes are modest—greenish-white to yellowish with conspicuous orange stamens—but the honeyed, raspberry-like scent is legendary. Direct sow seeds in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, as mignonette prefers cool conditions.

Scatter seeds on prepared soil and press in lightly—they need some light to germinate. Thin seedlings to 8-10 inches apart. Choose a partially shaded location in hot climates, as mignonette wilts and stops blooming in extreme heat. In cool-summer areas, full sun is ideal.

Mignonette performs best in moderately fertile, slightly alkaline soil that stays consistently moist. It resents transplanting, so always direct sow. For a continuous supply of fragrant flowers, make succession sowings every 3 weeks from early spring through early summer. In autumn, a final sowing in mild climates produces late-season fragrance.

Mignonette is the ideal fragrance partner for visually stunning but scentless flowers. Plant alongside sweet peas, stocks, and nicotiana for a multi-layered fragrance garden. Position near roses—the combination of rose and mignonette scent was considered the epitome of garden perfume in Victorian times. Place along paths, near benches, and under windows where the fragrance can be most enjoyed.

The Society Table

Sweet Alyssum belongs beside it.

Old growers' knowledge, checked against Mignonette's real companion table below — test any plant you're growing.

Grows well in the company of · 3

Sweet AlyssumLobeliaStock

Keep apart · 0

no recorded foes

Plant Mignonette with good neighboursThe planner flags conflicts before they're in the ground

Mignonette prefers moderately fertile, well-drained soil with a slightly alkaline pH of 6.5-7.5. It performs poorly in acid soils—add lime if your soil is acidic. Work compost into the planting area and apply a light dressing of balanced fertilizer. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes leafy growth at the expense of fragrant flowers. Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.

Ideal Temperature

Hardiness Zone Compatibility

Cut mignonette flower spikes when they are in full bloom for the strongest fragrance. The modest-looking flowers are best appreciated at close range in small posies and bud vases placed near seating areas, bedside tables, or windowsills. Combine with more visually striking flowers like roses and sweet peas—mignonette provides the scent while companions provide the visual impact. Flowers last 4-5 days in water.

Storage & Preservation

Mignonette is not commonly dried, as the fragrance does not persist well when dried. For seed saving, allow some flower spikes to mature fully until seed capsules turn brown and dry. Collect seed by shaking dried spikes into an envelope. Store in a cool, dry place. Seeds remain viable for 2-3 years. In mild climates, mignonette self-sows gently if some flowers are allowed to set seed.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Heat is the main enemy—mignonette stops blooming when temperatures regularly exceed 80°F (27°C). In hot climates, plant early and provide afternoon shade. The modest appearance disappoints gardeners expecting showy blooms—grow mignonette purely for its extraordinary fragrance. Poor germination often results from sowing too deeply or in overly warm soil; cool conditions and surface sowing give the best results.

Growing Tips

1. Sow mignonette seeds directly where they are to grow, as the taproot makes transplanting difficult and often results in stunted plants that never reach their full potential.
2. Press seeds gently onto the soil surface without covering them, as mignonette requires light for germination. A light dusting of vermiculite can help retain moisture without blocking light.
3. Choose a spot near windows, doorways, or seating areas where the evening fragrance can be enjoyed, as the scent intensifies during cool evening hours and on overcast days.
4. Grow mignonette in slightly alkaline to neutral soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. The plant is native to limestone regions and performs poorly in acidic conditions.
5. Avoid rich, heavily fertilised soil which encourages lush foliage at the expense of flowers and fragrance. Lean to moderately fertile soil produces the most intensely scented blooms.
6. Water consistently but moderately, allowing the top centimetre of soil to dry between waterings. Overwatering leads to root rot, while drought stress causes premature bolting.
7. Make successive sowings every two to three weeks from early spring through midsummer to ensure continuous blooms and fragrance from late spring well into autumn.
8. Grow mignonette alongside taller companion plants such as cosmos or cleome that provide light afternoon shade in hot climates, helping to extend the flowering period.
9. In containers, use a gritty, free-draining potting mix with added perlite or coarse sand. Terracotta pots are ideal as they allow excess moisture to evaporate through the pot walls.
10. Save seeds by allowing a few flower spikes to mature fully on the plant. Harvest the capsules when they turn brown and papery, and store seeds in a cool, dry location for up to three years.