Orlaya is a **Hardy Annual**.

It completes its life cycle in one season but is tough enough to survive a British winter as a small seedling.

The Autumn Secret: While you can sow it in spring, the biggest, earliest, and most floriferous plants come from an Autumn Sow (Sept-Oct). The cold winter weather helps establish a massive root system, ready to rocket away in spring.

Top Tip: It produces interesting spiky seed heads after flowering which look great in dried arrangements, so don't be in a rush to pull it up!

Orlaya can be a little slow to germinate if not treated right.

Germination:
Sow directly outdoors in Autumn (Sept) or Spring (March-May). Orlaya has a deep taproot and resents root disturbance, so direct sowing is best. If sowing indoors, use deep modules or root trainers. Cover seeds lightly. They prefer cooler temperatures to germinate (15-18°C). Be patient—they can take 21 days to appear!

Where to Sow:
They demand **full sun**. They thrive in well-drained, light soil. They are Mediterranean plants by origin, so they hate sitting in heavy, cold, wet clay.

Care While Growing:
Keep weed-free while young. Once established, they are fairly drought tolerant. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to keep the white lace coming all summer long.

The pure white of Orlaya acts as a spotlight for other colours. Try these combinations:

• ⚫ Cornflower 'Black Ball': The monochrome mix. The deep maroon-black of the Cornflower looks incredibly sophisticated against the pure white lace of Orlaya. A florist's dream.
• 🍑 Cosmos 'Apricotta': The romantic pastel. The soft apricot and peach tones of the Cosmos blend seamlessly with the creamy white Orlaya for a soft, dreamy cottage border.

Sow in Autumn for early flowers, or Spring for summer blooms.