Greater Ammi Ammi majus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- am-ME MAY-jus
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Bishop’s Weed is a hardy annual in the carrot family (Apiaceae). Native to warm and dry areas in the Nile Delta and the Mediterranean. The genus name comes from the Greek word “sand” referring to its native habitat in the Mediterranean.
Allow 18 inches between the upright plant which reaches 3 to 4 feet tall. Plant in full sun or part shade in well-drained, moist soils. Propagate with seeds sown in spring after all danger of frost has passed. It does not transplant easily. Prune after flowering to minimize self-seeding.
It received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit, indicating it is excellent to grow in ordinary gardens and has no serious pests or diseases. The densely packed umbels bloom from early summer to fall. Birds eat the dried flower seeds in the fall and winter. In addition to enhancing outdoor borders, it is an excellent cut flower in floral arrangements that can last up to 10 days. This is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. It is cultivated in India to treat skin disorders. In some environments, like Australia, it has escaped cultivation and is considered invasive.
Plant in borders or beds in cottage, cutting, pollinator and prairie gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious pests or diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Graceland'
- 'Graceland'
- 'Graceland'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Graceland'
- 'Graceland'
- 'Graceland'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ammi
- Species:
- majus
- Family:
- Apiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Medicinal
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Macaronesia, Medit. to Iran and Arabian Peninsula
- Wildlife Value:
- It attracts pollinators and beneficial insects
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Irregular
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The 3 inch umbels contain densely packed white flowes which bloom early summer to fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The feathery foliage is a popular filler in flower arrangements. They can be 8 inches long and 5.5 inches wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
