Ammi 'Queen Of Africa'

Queen Of Africa (Ammi majus)

Queen of Africa Ammi Delicate lace-like white blooms dance gracefully atop tall, elegant stems in Queen of Africa ammi, lending a soft, airy presence to garden beds and floral arrangements alike. Revered by pollinators and florists, this charming cottage garden favourite blooms generously through the season, filling spaces with its intricate, lacy umbels that span 5 to 6 inches across. A treasured cut flower, it brings lightness and texture to bouquets—perfect alongside blush roses, soft lavender, or pale pink peonies. Its blooms can also be dyed in a spectrum of colours, inviting whimsical creativity to floral artistry.

Known by many names, including False Queen Anne’s Lace, Lace Flower, False Bishop’s Weed, Large Bullwort, and Bishop’s Weed, this plant carries a touch of wild sophistication. Handle with care—wear gloves when harvesting and avoid skin contact with its sap, as it may cause irritation.

A romantic, timeless bloom that adds an ethereal whisper of charm wherever it grows.

DETAILS:

QTY: 200

TYPE: Annual

SITE: Full Sun

DEPTH: Cover Lightly

GERMINATION: 12-16 days at 16-18°C

HEIGHT: 36 - 50” Support may be necessary.

MATURITY: 65 - 75 Days

SPACING: 3 - 12”

PINCH: Yes

HOW TO GROW:
Direct Seeding (recommended): Sow seeds thinly in rows outdoors in early spring, after your last frost date. Lightly cover the seeds with soil. For a continuous supply of flowers throughout the summer, make 2–3 successive sowings, spaced two weeks apart.

Transplanting (alternative): Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before you plan to move them outside. Before sowing, you can chill the seeds at 5–$8°C$ for 1–2 weeks to improve germination. Once the first true leaves appear, transplant the seedlings into larger containers. Maintain cooler temperatures of 14–$17°C$ for ideal seedling establishment. Harden off seedlings for 7–10 days before transplanting outdoors after the last frost.

Pinching and Support:  Do not Pinch if you want good height and a single, large flower head. The plant's energy is directed to this one main stem. This is a great approach if you want a few large, impressive blooms. You will, however, need to provide support for the tall stems to keep them from flopping over.

Pinching Approach: pinching out the central stem when the plant is still young will encourage the plant to produce multiple side shoots, which results in more stems and a greater quantity of smaller flowers. This can be a useful strategy if you want a more abundant harvest of flowers for arrangements. However, staking or other support may be needed if you are growing taller varieties or are in a windy location.

Soil Preference and Watering: Ammi thrives in full sun and requires well-drained soil. Keep the soil consistently moist during the germination and establishment phases. Once mature, it is relatively drought-tolerant.

Fertilizing: Ammi is a light feeder and does not require much fertilizer. Amending the soil with compost before planting is usually sufficient.

Harvesting: For bouquets, harvest Ammi when the umbels (flower clusters) are fully open and the stems are firm. For drying, harvest when the umbels are fully open and have turned a creamy white color. Hang bunches upside down in a dark, well-ventilated area for 2–3 weeks until completely dry.