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Queen Anne's Lace Flowers

Standard · Apiaceae

Queen Anne's Lace, here the florists' annual Ammi majus rather than the roadside wild carrot, produces wide lacy white umbels on airy branching stems. It is prized for cottage gardens and cutting beds because it attracts beneficial insects while adding a light, delicate texture to mixed plantings. Plants prefer full sun, modest fertility, and cool-season establishment for the best stem length and bloom quality. Key facts: 85–100 days to maturity, 6+ hours of sun, 9–12 " spacing. Can be grown in containers with care (5+ gallon minimum).

Updated April 19, 2026 · Backed by 3 cited sources
Overview

At a Glance

The essentials first: timing, light, spacing, seed-starting, container fit, and overall size.

Days to maturity
85–100 days
Sun
6+ hours
Full Sun, 6 8 Hours
Spacing
9–12 "
between plants
Seed start
4–6 weeks
before transplant
Container
Possible
Needs 5+ gal minimum
Height
3–4 ft
at maturity
Planting window

Zone Planting Guide

Switch zones to see whether this plant is a strong fit, what frost timing looks like, and any extra notes worth planning around.

This card updates instantly with viability, frost timing, and any planting notes for your selected zone.

Resilience

Plant Health

Stress tolerance, resistance notes, and the most common problems to watch for as plants mature.

Tolerance
Heat: Moderate Cold: Moderate Drought: Moderate

Common Issues

Contact Dermatitis

Cause: Sap on skin can irritate some growers during harvest

Prevention: Wear gloves and long sleeves when cutting or deadheading

Flopping

Cause: Rich soil or wind can bend tall airy stems

Prevention: Use support netting in exposed rows and avoid excess nitrogen

Aphids

Cause: Tender umbels and stems can attract aphids

Prevention: Encourage beneficial insects and wash off colonies early

Feeding & picking

Nutrition & Harvest

How hungry the plant is, what ripe harvest looks like, and how long the crop keeps after picking.

Feeding
Nutrition
Feeding intensityLow feeder
RecipesWorm Castings Topdress
Timing
Harvest

Cut umbels when most tiny florets are open but still fresh white, or allow heads to dry tan for seed saving.

Expected yield0.15–0.3 lbs/plant
Storage5 days — Fresh stems hold several days in water; dry heads fully before seed storage.
Plant relationships

Companion Planting

Helpful neighbors can support growth or deter pests. Keep antagonistic plants separated to reduce stress and competition.

Avoid planting near
Herb Fennel
What you'll need

Growing Supplies

Based on Queen Anne's Lace's growth profile -- recommendations matched to this variety's specific requirements.

Drip irrigation / soaker hose kit

Every gardener benefits from putting water at the root zone instead of on the leaves, because drip and soaker systems reduce foliar disease pressure by limiting leaf wetness and soil splash. A quality kit should include a backflow preventer, filter, pressure reducer, and UV-resistant tubing.

Source: Iowa State University Extension; Colorado State University Extension; UMass Extension

Soil test kit

A soil test gives a baseline for pH and nutrient status so gardeners can add only what the soil actually needs. Prioritize a mail-in or lab-affiliated kit whenever possible because extension guidance notes that laboratory testing is more accurate than instant readers.

Source: University of Maryland Extension; Purdue Extension; Montana State University Extension

Quality bypass pruners

Extension guidance favors bypass designs because they make cleaner, closer cuts on living tissue than anvil types. Look for hardened steel blades that can be sharpened, a comfortable grip, and a cutting capacity matched to real home-garden stems.

Source: University of New Hampshire Extension; Iowa State University Extension; Purdue University Extension

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Research

Sources

Reference material and extension guidance used to build this growing guide.

seed_catalog Seeds Nowreference Johnny's Selected Seedsreference Ammi cut-flower references
Internal links

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