Orlaya Grandiflora

If Ammi majus is the wild hedgerow cousin, Orlaya grandiflora is the refined, elegant royalty. It produces flat-topped umbels of pure snow-white flowers where the outer petals are much larger than the inner ones, creating a detailed lace-doily effect of extraordinary delicacy — shorter and sturdier than Ammi at 50–60cm, rarely needing staking, and with a vase life that outlasts almost any other white filler.

Listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators. Autumn sowing produces the largest, most floriferous plants. Approximately 25 large seeds per packet.

• Orlaya grandiflora — Hardy Annual (H3/H4)
• Height: 50–60cm | Flowers: June–September
• Direct sow September or March–May — do not transplant
• Full sun; well-drained, light soil
• Deadhead regularly for continuous flowering
• RHS Plants for Pollinators listed

Grow it with Cornflower Black Ball for a monochrome combination of white lace and dark velvet that is one of the great florist’s pairings.