Ammi, also known as “Bishop’s Flower” or “False Queen Anne’s Lace,” is a delicate, airy bloom that looks like a cloud of tiny white lace sitting atop long, slender stems. It’s a favorite for adding a whimsical, meadow-like feel to any space—and the best part? You can roam the pick-your-own fields in the Netherlands and snip your own bundle, from July to September. Whether you go alone or turn it into a sunny outing with friends and kids (who will love spotting the little umbels), hand-picking ammi is a joy. Look for stems where the umbels are mostly open and bright white, avoid any that look droopy, browned or are starting to set seed, and cut the stem with sharp scissors, leaving the lower leaves on the plant. Pick in the cool of the morning or late afternoon, and bring a bucket of water for the car ride home—these stems drink up immediately.
Once you’re back, recut the stems at an angle, remove the lower leaves and change the water every two days; that way ammi lasts about a week in the vase. Because it’s not a heavy, heady flower, it plays well with others. Try these:
- The “Cloudy Vase” – Fill a clear vase mostly with ammi, leaving the stems at varying heights. It looks like a soft, floating mist. Place it on a kitchen windowsill or a bedside table.
- Wildflower Bouquet – Pair ammi with bright dahlias, sunflowers, or even a few stems of mint from the garden. The white lace softens bold colors beautifully.
- Dried Wreath Base – Ammi dries wonderfully if hung upside down in a dark, dry spot. Use the dried heads as a delicate base for a wreath, adding dried lavender or eucalyptus later.
- Table Scatter – Snip just the flower heads (with a tiny stem) and scatter them across a dining table for a fairy-tale, laid-back centerpiece. They look magical floating in low bowls of water too.
Since ammi is a flower (not a vegetable or fruit), skip the recipes and enjoy the lightness of just picking, arranging, and smiling at the little cloud you brought home.