Orlaya grandiflora is a charming hardy annual plant with umbels of white lacy flowers that look similar to Lace Cap Hydrangeas. Its cousin is Queen Anne's Lace, though Orlaya never gets as tall or unruly. Orlaya flowers for several months and is an ideal garden plant that is well suited to meadow and cottage gardens.
Orlaya prefers a friable soil in a full sun position, it requires moderate watering but does not like wet feet. It will grow in a range of soils from slightly acid to slightly alkaline. Orlaya grows to about 60cm tall x 30cm wide.
Orlaya is a popular cut flower. Pick the stems at the base of the plant at an angle, in either the early morning or late afternoon. Put them into cool water and leave to hydrate for up to 12 hours before arranging. Vase life is up to 10 days in optimum conditions.
In temperate or warm areas, seed can be sown in both autumn and early spring, but in heavy frosty areas, sow seeds in autumn for a spring/summer display. Sow seeds about half a centimetre deep in either seed raising trays or into the garden bed, spacing about 30cm apart. Germination takes around 10-16 days. If raising seeds in pots, transplant out when the first true set of leaves have appeared.
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