Queen Anne’s Lace ‘Queen of Africa’
Ammi majus
Description
This is one of the most useful and productive filler flowers you can grow from seed. The more you pick, the more they flower. I plant hundreds of them every year and use every single stem. The lacy flower heads and crisp green-white color provide an invaluable backbone for late spring and early summer bouquets.
Please note: When cut, Queen Anne’s Lace emits a sap that is irritating to the skin and can cause scarring in extreme reactions. Use caution and wear gloves and long sleeves when harvesting. It is also potentially poisonous to livestock.
Details
Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 48 to 65 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 90 to 110 days
Plant spacing: 12 in
Pinch: not necessary
Height: 48 to 65 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 90 to 110 days
Plant spacing: 12 in
Pinch: not necessary
Seed Sowing & Growing Notes
Start seed indoors in trays 6 to 8 weeks before last frost; transplant out while the weather is still cool. Seed can be tricky to start indoors, so pop seeds into the freezer for 10 to 14 days before sowing to speed up germination. Succession-plant every 2 weeks for continual harvest.
Harvesting/Vase Life
Pick when 80 percent of the flowers on a stem are open. Stems tend to wilt if harvested earlier. Can cause skin irritation, so wear long sleeves and gloves when harvesting. Expect a vase life of 6 to 8 days.
Details
Description
This is one of the most useful and productive filler flowers you can grow from seed. The more you pick, the more they flower. I plant hundreds of them every year and use every single stem. The lacy flower heads and crisp green-white color provide an invaluable backbone for late spring and early summer bouquets.
Please note: When cut, Queen Anne’s Lace emits a sap that is irritating to the skin and can cause scarring in extreme reactions. Use caution and wear gloves and long sleeves when harvesting. It is also potentially poisonous to livestock.
Details
Plant type: hardy annual
Height: 48 to 65 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 90 to 110 days
Plant spacing: 12 in
Pinch: not necessary
Height: 48 to 65 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 90 to 110 days
Plant spacing: 12 in
Pinch: not necessary
Seed Sowing & Growing Notes
Start seed indoors in trays 6 to 8 weeks before last frost; transplant out while the weather is still cool. Seed can be tricky to start indoors, so pop seeds into the freezer for 10 to 14 days before sowing to speed up germination. Succession-plant every 2 weeks for continual harvest.
Harvesting/Vase Life
Pick when 80 percent of the flowers on a stem are open. Stems tend to wilt if harvested earlier. Can cause skin irritation, so wear long sleeves and gloves when harvesting. Expect a vase life of 6 to 8 days.
Sources
How to Grow
Sources
How to Grow
Seed-Saving Mini Course
Learn how to save seed from zinnia, dahlia, and celosia
In our upcoming free, three-part video series, you’ll learn everything you need to know to save seeds on a home scale, including how plants are pollinated and isolation techniques to ensure varieties come back true, how to tell when plants are ready to pick and how to harvest the seeds, and how to properly dry, clean, and store seeds long term.
