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Welcome to our guide on how to grow Ammi Visnaga, also known as Queen Anne's Lace. In this article, we will explore the best growing conditions of Ammi Visnaga, a beautiful member of the carrot family.
This is one of the most useful and productive filler flowers you can grow from seed. The more you pick, the more they flower.
What is Ammi Visnaga
Ammi Visnaga is a hardy annual and a member of the carrot family (Apiaceae) and is closely related to Ammi Majus. However, it differs in its flowering time, feathery foliage, and the appearance of its flowers. The plant produces tightly packed, large flowers that initially start as lime green and gradually open to a greenish-white colour. As the flowers open, the heads become more domed, adding an elegant charm to any garden.
When fully grown, Ammi Visnaga can reach a height of 1m. Its feathery foliage adds a delicate touch to its overall appearance, making it a visually appealing addition to any landscape.
Ammi Visnaga thrives in full sun. It is a versatile plant that can adapt to various soil types but prefers well-draining soil.
Please note that when handling Ammi Visnaga, precautions should be taken. The plant emits a sap that can be irritating to the skin and may cause scarring in extreme reactions. It is advisable to wear gloves and long sleeves when harvesting.
Additionally, Ammi Visnaga is potentially poisonous to livestock, so it should be kept away from grazing areas.
How to grow Ammi Visnaga:
- 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.
Plant details:
- Plant type: hardy annual
- Height: 100cm
- Site: full sun
- Sowing Depth: 1.5mm
- Germination: 21-30 days
- Temperature: 20°C
- Days to maturity: 90-110 days
- Plant spacing: 30cm
- Pinch: yes
- Staking: may be required
- Drying: no
- 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:
- Pick when 80 percent of the flowers on a stem are open. If harvested much earlier, the stems have a tendency to wilt.
- Fresh flowers will last 5-10 days in the vase.
Here are 9 tips on how to grow Ammi visnaga flowers:
- Ammi visnaga are similar, but slightly different, to Ammi majus. 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 visnaga seeds in Autumn and/or during early Spring.
- 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 visnaga 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 visnaga plants for extra support. They grow into tall plants so they will thank you for it.
Hope these tips help you grow gorgeous Ammi visnaga flowers in your garden!
