The lace flower plant is a favorite for gardeners due to its delicate, airy quality. Its floral clusters resemble fine lace suspended above the foliage, giving the plant its common name. This easily grown annual thrives in various settings, from cutting gardens to cottage borders. The plant’s sweet fragrance and long vase life contribute to its popularity.
Identifying the Different Types of Lace Flowers
The common name “lace flower” applies to several different plants within the carrot family, Apiaceae. The two most common cultivated varieties are the Blue Lace Flower and the White Lace Flower, which belong to different botanical genera.
The Blue Lace Flower (Trachymene caerulea) is native to Australia. This variety is known for its light lavender-blue, sweetly scented, umbrella-shaped flower heads atop slender stems.
The White Lace Flower is Orlaya grandiflora, a hardy annual from the Mediterranean region. Orlaya produces abundant, flat-topped clusters of pure white flowers. A distinguishing visual characteristic of Orlaya is the asymmetry of its florets, where the outer flowers in the cluster are enlarged, creating a pronounced lacy effect. Both types have fine, fern-like, deeply divided foliage, but their differing bloom colors and structure help distinguish them.
Essential Requirements for Successful Growth
Lace flower plants thrive when given the proper environmental conditions, primarily requiring ample sunlight and well-drained soil. They perform best in a position that receives full sun for most of the day, though they benefit from a period of afternoon shade in climates with intense summer heat. Providing a slightly sheltered location helps protect the delicate, tall stems from strong winds.
Lace flowers prefer moderately fertile soil with excellent drainage, often performing well in sandy or loamy conditions. Incorporating compost or well-rotted manure during soil preparation can improve fertility and texture. Heavy feeding is generally unnecessary, and excellent drainage prevents waterlogging and root rot.
Consistent moisture is necessary, particularly during the germination and seedling stages. Once established, the plants appreciate deep, regular watering but should be allowed to dry slightly between applications. The Orlaya species tolerates drier soil conditions once mature, making it a more drought-tolerant option.
Planting, Pruning, and Propagation Techniques
Lace flower is propagated by seed, either through direct sowing or starting seeds indoors.
Starting Seeds Indoors
For the Blue Lace Flower (Trachymene), start seeds six to eight weeks before the last expected frost. Seedlings can be sensitive to transplanting. Seeds should be covered lightly, kept moist, and maintained at approximately 70°F (21°C). Germination typically occurs within two to three weeks.
Direct Sowing
Direct sowing is viable, especially for Orlaya grandiflora, which often self-sows readily. Seeds can be sown directly after all danger of frost has passed, or in the autumn for earlier blooms the following year. Once seedlings are large enough, thin them to a spacing of 8 to 12 inches apart. This spacing ensures adequate air circulation and allows the plants to develop a full, branching habit.
Maintenance
Maintenance focuses on encouraging continuous flowering. Deadheading, the removal of spent flowers at the base of the stem, prevents the plant from setting seed. This practice redirects energy into producing new blooms and extends the flowering period throughout the summer. Taller varieties of Blue Lace Flower may benefit from light staking to prevent the delicate stems from collapsing.
Using Lace Flowers in Landscape Design
Lace flowers are an excellent choice for incorporating soft texture into garden beds. They are well-suited for cottage-style gardens, where massed blooms create a cloud-like effect. Both varieties serve as effective filler plants, mingling gracefully among larger flowers.
Planting them in groups of at least three to five plants creates a cohesive visual impact. Lace flowers attract beneficial insects, including bees, butterflies, and hoverflies, making them useful additions to a pollinator garden. With a mature height of 24 to 35 inches, they are best placed in the middle or back of a border, floating above shorter foreground plantings. They are also prized cut flowers due to their long vase life and sweet scent.