An ethereal, vintage-style treasure with soft lavender-blue lacy umbels. This ‘Blue Lace’ flower is highly coveted for its delicate texture, sweet fragrance, and professional-standard 10-day vase life.
Imagine the popular Queen Anne’s Lace, but in a soft, dreamy shade of lavender-blue. Didiscus ‘Blue Lace’ is an ethereal, vintage-style flower that produces hundreds of tiny, star-shaped blooms clustered into flat, lacy umbels. It has a gentle, sweet fragrance and stems that curve elegantly, adding movement and romance to any bouquet.
Native to Australia, this plant (also known as Trachymene coerulea) is a somewhat rare treasure in the UK garden. It is highly coveted by florists because “true blue” flowers are hard to find, especially ones with such a delicate, airy texture. It bridges the gap between larger focal flowers perfectly.
Understanding the Plant
Trachymene coerulea, known as the Blue Lace Flower, is a sophisticated Half-Hardy Annual (H2). Native to the sun-drenched landscapes of Western Australia, it thrives in the UK summer, providing continuous lavender-blue blooms from July until the first autumn frosts.
The Cut-and-Come-Again Factor: Didiscus is exceptionally productive. It behaves as a true “working plant” in the cutting garden; the more frequently you harvest the stems for the house, the more the plant is stimulated to produce fresh side-shoots, ensuring a steady supply of lace-like flowers for months.
Professional Vase Life: Despite its delicate, almost fragile appearance, Didiscus is surprisingly robust in water. It possesses a professional-standard vase life of 7-10 days, making it a prized choice for wedding arrangements and intricate floral designs where movement and texture are key.
Growing Guide
Didiscus is rewarding to grow, but it has one specific biological requirement for successful germination: total darkness.
How to Sow:
Sow indoors from February to April. Sow the seeds into modules or small pots on the surface of moist seed compost. Cover them completely with a layer of soil or vermiculite. To ensure total darkness, cover your seed tray with a piece of cardboard or black plastic until the first shoots appear. Keep at 18-20C; germination usually occurs within 14-21 days.
Where to Plant:
They demand full sun and thrive in well-drained soil. They possess a sensitive taproot and deeply dislike root disturbance; for this reason, we recommend transplanting carefully into their final sheltered flowering positions in late May or June once all risk of frost has passed.
Ongoing Care:
The slender, elegantly curving stems can be prone to bending under the weight of heavy summer rain. We recommend providing light horizontal support netting or twiggy sticks to keep the stems straight for cutting. They are relatively drought-tolerant once established but require consistent moisture during the seedling stage.
Plant Specifications
| Botanical Name | Trachymene coerulea |
| Common Name | Blue Lace Flower / Didiscus |
| Plant Type | Half-Hardy Annual |
| Hardiness | H2 (Frost sensitive) |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun |
| Height | 60cm – 70cm |
| Spread | 25cm |
| Spacing | Plant 25cm apart |
| Flowering Period | July to September |
| Perfect For | Romantic Wedding Arrangements High-End Cut Flowers Airy Texture in Borders Supporting Summer Hoverflies |
| Seeds per Packet | Approximately 50 seeds |
Beautiful Garden Combinations
The powder-blue of Didiscus is soft and non-aggressive, making it a dream partner for these available stars from our range:
Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow indoors in spring (ensuring total darkness) for a spectacular lavender-blue harvest from July until the autumn frosts.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Indoors | |||||||||||||
| Flowering |
Vase Life Tip
Didiscus has an excellent vase life of 7-10 days. For the longest display, harvest the stems when the umbel is about half to two-thirds open. If cut too early, the tiny stars may not reach their full potential in the vase.
Known for its stamina and ability to thrive in sheltered sun, Trachymene coerulea is an essential choice for those wanting to create a romantic, professional-grade garden that provides high-quality blue lace for wedding work and bouquets.
Want more detailed growing advice?
View our Complete Growing Guide for Annuals
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