Ammi majus 'Queen Anne's Lace'

Ammi majus is tall, branching flower, with finely divided, feathery foliage. In summer, it bears an abundance of large round blooms made up of clusters of tiny white florets on tall, branched, slender stems. The delicate clusters add beauty and depth to bouquets and meadows alike.
A highly fashionable flower for cut flowers arrangements, Ammi is one of the best white filler-foliage plants you can grow. Multiple successions throughout the season is advised for continual harvest. The lacy, white flowers are spectacular when used in mixed bouquets or simply arranged in a great cloud of their own. They last up to 10 days in the vase and can also be used dyed or dried.

In the garden, Ammi majus is a popular garden plant and is used by gardeners to fill foliage space and create a cohesive flower bed and lends a delicate airiness to any sunny or partially shaded border.
Ammi has long been a favorite of naturalistic planting schemes yet combines well with stout, robust garden plants such as Cannas and Foxgloves.

Extremely easy to grow on a variety of soils, this annual, non-invasive species is ideal for attracting beneficial insects into the garden. It is good plant for landscaping and can be used in meadows and wildlife gardens, where it is adored by hoverflies and provides a wonderful host plant for butterflies.
Flowering will usually continue well into the autumn, even after blossoms have died off and seed pods have started to form.

• Awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit
  In 2014 Ammi majus was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
  A key indicator that this variety is worth growing in your garden.

Sowing: Sow March to May and/or late August to September
Ammi majus forms larger, more prolific plants from an autumn sowing. It tends to grow best when propagated by seed sown in situ in spring.
For cut flowers throughout the summer, sow at intervals from March, 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date, to early June. Multiple successions throughout the season is advised for continual harvest. The plants take approximately 100 to 110 days to mature and bloom

Sowing Indoors:
Seeds can be sown in pots or trays indoors, but as with most of the Umbelliferae/Apiaceae (Carrot family) they have a long taproot which can be damaged when transplanting so care must be taken.
Sow 6 to 8 weeks before planting out. When first true leaves appear, transplant into larger containers. Harden off and transplant out after last frost.

Sowing Direct:
Sow where they are to flower once temperatures are around 15 to 20°C (59 to 68°F). Surface sow to no more than 1mm (1/8in) deep. Sow thinly in drills 30cm (12in) apart in well-cultivated soil which has been raked to a fine tilth. Lightly cover seed
Water ground regularly, especially in dry periods. Germination will normally occur within 7 to 21 days at temperatures around 68 to 72°F (20 to 22°C). When large enough to handle, thin out seedlings to 20 to 30cm (8 to 12in) apart.

Cultivation:
Provide support if exposed to windy areas. Stake plants when they are about 10cm (4in) tall with twiggy hazel stems. Plants will reseed themselves if a few heads are left in the garden to mature.

Cut flowers:
Cut the flowers in the morning when approximately 80% of the flowers are open. Flowers should be crisp white with only slight green tint and no hint of pollen shed.
For dried flowers, air dry flowers for two to three weeks in a dark, dry place. Darkness is necessary so the white flowers do not turn brown.

Garden uses:
Beds and borders, City, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Low Maintenance, Mediterranean, Wildflower, Wildlife

Other Uses:
A. majus is commonly used as an aromatic spice in India, it has a flavour of thyme. It is commonly used as a cardiac tonic for treatment of angina, palpitations or weakness. The ancient Egyptians used it as a treatment for skin diseases.

Warning:
Care must be taken when cutting stems, as the sap can cause skin irritation that can be very serious and painful. The photoactive compounds from Ammi can cause blistering to normal skin when exposed to the sun. Wash the skin area that is exposed to the sap, using soap and water.

Origin:
Ammi has its origins in the warm climate of the Mediterranean and Southern Europe. The species is widely widely naturalised in many other countries throughout the world.
Ammi majus, pronounced: AH-mee MAY-jus, is a member of the Apiaceae, the carrot family.

Nomenclature:
The name Ammi was used for the plant early on by Dioscorides. The word comes from the Greek term ammos meaning 'sand' and refers to the plant’s habitat.
Common names include Bullwort, Laceflower and Bishop’s Flower.
The common name of Bishopsflower and occasionally Bishops weed, originated in the Latin bis acutum meaning 'two pointed' referring to the seed heads.
Ammi majus is used extensively in the floral trade as “Queen Anne’s Lace.” It is sometimes confused with the wildflower Daucus carota which was originally called 'Queen Anne's Lace'. Because of this, Ammi majus is occasionally called 'False Queen Anne's Lace'.
Ammi majus is an annual, while Daucus carota is biennial.