Daucus carota 'Dara' Seeds
If Ammi Majus is the bridal white, 'Dara' is the moody, vintage sister. This spectacular ornamental carrot produces large, lacy umbels that open pale pink and mature into rich shades of deep crimson, chocolate, and dusty purple. Often, a single flower head will display a mesmerising "ombré" effect, fading from dark edges to a light centre.
This plant has taken the cut flower world by storm. Its strong, wiry stems and long-lasting blooms make it essential for adding texture and depth to bouquets. It bridges the gap perfectly between dark, dramatic flowers and soft pastels, adding a touch of wild, meadow-style elegance to any vase.
Read More
🌿 Understanding the Plant
Daucus carota is a **Hardy Annual** (or Biennial).
It is essentially a wild carrot. Like edible carrots, it sends down a long taproot. This makes it drought tolerant once established, but it means it hates being transplanted.
Top Tip: For the biggest, earliest plants, sow in Autumn (Sept). The plants will form a low rosette of ferny leaves over winter and shoot up tall flower stems in early summer.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Because of the taproot, direct sowing is best, or use deep cells.
Germination:
Sow directly outdoors in Autumn (Sept) or Spring (April-May). Scatter seeds thinly in rows and cover very lightly with soil (they need a little darkness but not too deep). Germination takes 14-21 days.
Where to Sow:
They demand **full sun** and light, well-drained soil. If you have heavy clay, add grit or grow in raised beds.
Care While Growing:
Support: The flower heads can get heavy after rain. Plant them close together so they support each other, or use some twiggy sticks/netting to keep the stems straight for cutting.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Daucus carota |
| Common Name | Chocolate Lace Flower 'Dara' |
| Hardiness | H3/H4 (Hardy Annual) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 75cm - 90cm |
| Spread | ↔️ 40cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 30cm apart |
| Great for | ✂️ Cut Flowers 🐝 Pollinators 🎨 Vintage Themes 🍂 Drying |
| Seed Count | Approx. 100 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
The dusky pinks and browns of 'Dara' need contrasting colours to stop them looking muddy:
- 🌌 Scabious 'Black Knight': The Moody Mix. The deep, velvet maroon of the Scabious picks up the darkest chocolate tones in the 'Dara' flowers. Together they create a stunning, gothic-style bouquet.
- ☁️ Cosmos 'Purity': The Light Lift. To stop the border looking too dark, plant 'Dara' next to the pure white flowers of Cosmos. The white brings out the delicate pink blush in the lace flower.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow in Autumn (for big plants) or Spring. Flowers June to September.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 |
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
This is a biodiversity champion. Daucus carota is a top-tier plant for hoverflies and parasitic wasps, which are the natural predators of garden pests like aphids.
- Regular price
-
£2.40 - Regular price
-
- Sale price
-
£2.40
Couldn't load pickup availability
