Orlaya grandiflora

Receiving Orlaya grandiflora seeds is a completely different experience than handling other lace plants. Often called the White Laceflower or White Snow Flower, these seeds are large, flat, and covered in soft, hook-like bristles that feel rough to the touch. This "burr" texture is a natural adaptation designed to help the seeds travel by sticking to passing animals. The germination rate for Orlaya is moderate, around 60 percent, and the seeds have a much tougher coat. To improve your success, it is highly beneficial to mimic a natural winter by placing the seeds in a damp paper towel in the refrigerator for two weeks before sowing. This brief cold stratification signals to the embryo that it is time to break its dormancy. Unlike the tiny seeds of Ammi, Orlaya seeds have more energy and should be covered with about an eighth of an inch of soil to prevent them from drying out while they sprout.

The best time to plant Orlaya is in the autumn or very early spring, as this plant is a hardy annual that thrives in cool weather. It grows to a compact height of about twenty-four inches, forming a neat mound of dark green, ferny foliage. Because it is shorter and more structural than its cousins, it rarely requires any staking or support. To keep the plant blooming for as long as possible, you should practice "deadheading," which is the process of cutting away flowers as they fade. This prevents the plant from putting its energy into seed production and forces it to produce a new flush of lacy white umbrellas. If you want the plant to return next year, simply leave the final flowers of the season on the stem so they can drop their characteristic burr seeds back into the garden.

The flowers of Orlaya are easily the most intricate and "solid" of the three. Each umbel features a ring of large, heart-shaped outer petals that surround a center of tiny florets, making each flower head look like a perfectly symmetrical snowflake or a piece of handmade lace. This distinct appearance is why they are often featured in "moonlight gardens" where their bright white petals glow in the twilight. Because of their compact size, they are the best choice for container gardening, fitting perfectly in terracotta pots on a patio. In a landscape, they are classic "front-of-the-border" plants. They pair spectacularly with roses, where the pure white lace highlights the delicate curves of the rose petals, creating a high-end, romantic English garden aesthetic.