Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd
Didiscus Blue Lace
Didiscus Blue Lace
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Didiscus 'Blue Lace' Seeds
If you love the airy texture of Ammi or Queen Anne's Lace but crave a splash of colour, Didiscus is the answer. It produces hundreds of flat-topped, lace-like umbels in a dreamy shade of soft powder-blue to lavender, each made up of tiny star-shaped florets.
This is a flower that screams "high-end floristry." Standing on strong, branching stems, it adds a delicate, floating quality to bouquets and emits a subtle, sweet perfume. It blooms tirelessly from mid-summer onwards, bridging the gap between bold bedding plants and wilder meadow styles with effortless grace.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Didiscus (botanically Trachymene coerulea) is a Half-Hardy Annual.
It originates from Australia, so it loves warmth and sun. It is a "cut-and-come-again" flower; the more you harvest for the vase, the more stems it will send up.
Top Tip: This plant has a bit of a reputation for resenting root disturbance. To get the biggest plants, sow them into modular trays so you can transplant the whole plug without touching the roots.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Didiscus needs darkness to germinate, so don't leave seeds on the surface!
Germination:
Sow indoors from March to April. Sow 3mm deep in moist compost and cover completely with soil or vermiculite (they need darkness). Keep warm (18-21°C). Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They demand a sunny, sheltered spot. They flourish in light, well-drained, sandy soil. Heavy, wet clay will make them sulk, so add grit if needed.
Care While Growing:
Pinch out the central tip of young plants when they are about 20cm tall. This encourages them to branch out and produce multiple flowering stems instead of just one.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Trachymene coerulea (syn. Didiscus) |
| Common Name | Blue Lace Flower |
| Hardiness | H2 (Half-Hardy Annual) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 60cm - 75cm |
| Spread | ↔️ 25cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 25cm apart |
| Great for | ✂️ Cut Flowers 🦋 Bees & Butterflies 🎨 Pastel Borders 👃 Scent |
| Seed Count | Approx. 50 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
The soft lavender-blue of Didiscus pairs beautifully with creams and apricots:
- 🍑 Cosmos 'Apricotta': The Sunset Mix. The warm apricot-peach tones of this Cosmos look incredible next to the cool blue lace. Both plants have a floaty, relaxed habit that works well together.
- ☁️ Ammi Majus (Queen Anne's Lace): Texture Harmony. If you love the "meadow" look, mixing the white lace of Ammi with the blue lace of Didiscus creates a stunning, cloud-like effect in the border.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow indoors in spring. Plant out in June. Flowers July to October.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Indoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
Didiscus is an amazing cut flower that lasts 7-10 days in water. It is also listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, making it a fantastic choice for attracting bees and hoverflies to your cutting patch.
