‘White Anne’ is a specific cultivar of Queen Anne’s Lace, a popular choice for gardens and cut flower arrangements due to its distinctively pure white blooms. Its refined aesthetic makes it a favored option for classic, delicate floral displays.
Understanding ‘White Anne’
The botanical name for ‘White Anne’ is Daucus carota ‘White Anne’, identifying it as a cultivated variety of the wild carrot, commonly known as Queen Anne’s Lace. This plant typically features large, lace-like flower heads that are a pristine white, often larger than those found on its wild counterparts. The overall plant usually reaches a height of 2 to 4 feet, displaying a graceful, upright growth habit.
Unlike wild Queen Anne’s Lace, which can sometimes exhibit a faint pinkish tint or a single dark purple floret, ‘White Anne’ is specifically bred for its consistent, pure white coloration, ensuring a uniform and pristine appearance. This distinguishes it from the often variable blooms of its undomesticated relative. The delicate, fern-like foliage further complements the airy quality of the blooms.
Cultivating ‘White Anne’
This plant thrives in full sun, which promotes abundant flowering, though it can also tolerate partial shade. For optimal growth, it requires well-draining soil with average fertility; overly rich soil can lead to more foliage and fewer flowers. A soil pH ranging from slightly acidic to neutral, between 5.5 and 7.0, is ideal.
Planting ‘White Anne’ is most effective directly from seed, as its deep taproot makes transplanting established plants challenging. Seeds can be sown in either spring or fall, with spring sowings sometimes blooming in the same season. When sowing, lightly cover the seeds or surface sow them, as light can aid germination. Ensure the soil remains consistently moist during the germination period, which can take anywhere from 20 to 90 days.
Space individual plants about 6 to 12 inches apart to allow for adequate air circulation and growth. Initial watering should be consistent, keeping the soil moist until the plants are well-established.
Ongoing Care and Applications
After ‘White Anne’ plants are established, their care becomes less intensive. While they appreciate consistent moisture during active growth, they exhibit good drought tolerance once their root systems are mature. Watering can be reduced, allowing the top inch or two of soil to dry out between waterings. This approach prevents waterlogging, which can be detrimental to the plant.
Deadheading, the removal of spent flowers, encourages the plant to produce more blooms throughout the growing season. Additionally, deadheading helps manage self-seeding, as ‘White Anne’ can readily reseed itself if the flower heads are left to mature.
‘White Anne’ is an excellent choice for ornamental gardens, providing an airy and naturalistic aesthetic. It is also highly valued as a cut flower, offering a graceful filler for bouquets and arrangements. When harvested, ‘White Anne’ typically has a vase life of 3 to 8 days.