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If you love the romantic froth of clouds of cow parsley in the spring lanes of an English countryside then you will love the white umbells of the ammi majus flower. This is very easy to grow and takes over just as the cow parsley is finishing. It also flowers for a long time if left unpicked. But if you can’t resist, it also makes a great cut flower. Here I will guide you on how to grow ammi majus.
What is Ammi Majus?
Ammi majus, also known as Bishop's Flower, is a stunning hardy annual flower that thrives in sustainable gardens. It adds a layer of wild lacy froth that is hard to beat. As ammi majus is a hardy annual, the same plant will not come back each year. But you may be lucky, if it likes where you have positioned it, it may self sow and give the illusion of coming back every year.
Its delicate white blooms resemble lace, adding an ethereal touch to any floral arrangement. But ammi majus is more than just a pretty flower; it plays a vital role in sustainable flower gardening. With its ability to attract beneficial insects and support local pollinators, ammi majus promotes a healthy ecosystem in your garden.
If you want to bring a bit of controlled, unruly plant behaviour into your garden consider using a bit of ammi majus. You won't need many of these large plants to make an impact.
How to grow ammi majus:
- If planting early (start seed indoors in trays 6-8 weeks before last frost ), sow indoors into a seed tray and keep moist, propagate with gentle heat.
- Pot on when large enough to handle. Transplant out while weather is still cool.
- Can direct sow into raked soil.
- Sow in the autumn for flowers the following early summer, or in the spring for flowers later in the season.
- These hardy annuals can be sown in succession, with one sowing in autumn and subsequent successions starting in spring, giving you flowers throughout summer and autumn.
- Ammi majus is a tall plant, so providing support is essential if you want to get the best out of the plant.
- They can tolerate a bit of shade, but do not enjoy being in complete shade.
Ammi majus plant details:
- Plant type: hardy annual
- Height: 90cm
- Site: full sun, partial shade
- Sowing Depth: 1.5mm
- Germination: 21 days
- Temperature: 20°C
- Days to maturity: 90-110 days
- Plant spacing: 30cm
- Pinch: not necessary
- Staking: required
- Drying: yes
- Approx seeds per packet: 100
Please note we pack the majority of our seeds by weight so the number of seeds indicated is only an approximation.
Currently, I sell our seeds, and other bits and bobs, through Etsy, so the link below will direct you there.
Harvesting and vase life details:
- Pick when 75 percent of the flowers on a stem are open but before they start to shed pollen. If harvested much earlier, the stems have a tendency to wilt.
- Place straight into water and ideally condition overnight before using.
- I allow for each plant producing about 6-10 stems. Once you have picked that many stems the plant is more than likely done it's bit and will be finished.
- Fresh flowers will last 5-10 days in the vase.
Here are 9 tips for growing Ammi Majus flowers:
- Ammi majus are similar, but slightly different, to ammi visnaga. I think ammi majus flower heads are more delicate and lend themselves to combining better with early summer flowers, whereas the more robust flower heads of ammi visnaga work better with the bolder late summer flowers. Coincidentally, ammi visnagna seems to flower later, so maybe nature is telling us something.
- Sow your ammi majus seeds in autumn and/or during early spring. I find that sowing a few seeds in each season will see you with flowers throughout the growing season. The autumn sown seeds will flower earlier than spring sown flowers.
- This can be direct sown into the growing area or sown into seed trays. I prefer to sow most seeds into seed trays as I find I waste less seeds and the seedlings are easier to distinguish from weeds.
- Choose a bed that receives full sun and is well-drained for optimal growth.
- If you are sowing directly in the soil make sure your soil has been raked to a fine tilth. Remember, these seeds are tiny and don't want to struggle through big clods of earth to reach the light.
- When direct sowing, create straight drills and lightly cover the seeds, about a millimetre is enough.
- Once ammi majus gets going, provide plenty of water. Don't let the ground dry out completely.
- When the seedlings reach two or three inches in height, thin them out to about a foot apart. They are large plants that product lots of flowers so they need space but you won’t need many of them.
- Unless your cut flower garden is super protected from the wind, it's worth staking your ammi majus plants for extra support. They grow into tall plants so they will thank you for it.
Hope these tips help you grow gorgeous ammi majus flowers in your garden! Remember that sustainable seasonal flower gardening is a rewarding and fulfilling endeavour. Embrace the beauty and elegance of ammi majus in your garden, creating a harmonious space that not only captivates your senses but also supports the delicate balance of nature.
The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway.
Michael Pollan
So let your garden bloom with ammi majus, and fill the space with clouds of white frothy lace.
