Large, tall dill shaped flowers in shades of white, blush and Burgundy, each one different. Easy to grow with hearty stems. The more you cut them the more they’ll bloom so snip away!!
Also known as Dara, Chocolate Lace Flower, Daucus, or Chocolate Queen Anne's Lace.
Approximate Seeds per Packet: 100
Variety/Hardiness: Annual
Sunlight: Full sun
Mature Height: 36-48”
Germination: 12-16 days at 16-18°C
Sowing:
Transplant: To sow indoors, start 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Harden off and transplant out when all threats of frost have passed.
Direct Seeding (recommended): Direct seed after all threat of the last frost has passed. Sow thinly in rows, covering seed lightly. For continued summer harvest, make successive sowings 2 weeks apart.
Care: You can use horizontal netting to support plants to ensure straight stems. We enjoy the whimsy of a curvy stem, however, so this is not necessary!
Harvest:
Fresh: When harvesting choose blooms that have fully opened or become flat, even blooms that start to curve down (umbrella shaped). Flowers that are cut too early tend to wilt. Adding flower preservative in their water will prolong their vase life.
Dried: Seed heads make an interesting textural accent.
Tip: When Dara is cut in the high heat of summer, it may initially droop a bit when you first bring it in from the garden. Don't panic. Give it a fresh cut at the end of the stem, sink it in a fresh vase of water and let it rest of a few hours. If it was picked at the correct stage, it will perk back up. It just needs a minute to hydrate! With this in mind, plan ahead. Pick your flowers before you need them so they get a chance to hydrate before you start working with them!
Note: Dara will often self seed in the area it was planted the previous year. Free flowers!