Gardening
Flowers
By
Peg Aloi
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Peg Aloi
Peg Aloi is a gardening expert and former garden designer with 13 years experience working as a professional gardener in the Boston and upstate New York areas. She received her certificate in horticulture from the Berkshire Botanical Garden in 2018.
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Updated on 04/27/23
Reviewed by
Mary Marlowe Leverette
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Reviewed byMary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.
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In This Article
Care
Propagating
Queen Anne's Lace vs. Poison Hemlock
Common Problems
Frequently Asked Questions
A familiar sight in meadows and along roadsides all summer long, Queen Anne's lace is a very pretty wildflower. Native to Europe and Asia, Queen Anne's lace is invasive in North America and some may consider it a weed. The leaves are delicate and thready, somewhat fern-like in appearance. The flat flower tops are a creamy white disk of tiny flowers, and look a bit like wild yarrow at a distance. The flowers are also similar to the flowers of goutweed, aka bishop's weed (Aegopodium podagraria).
While it has a place in the landscape as a source of food for pollinators and makes a long-lasting cut flower in a wildflower arrangement, Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota) is essentially a common weed. It is also commonly called wild carrot, as the root looks like a slender pale orange carrot and has a carrot-like scent. The young root is edible and can be eaten like a carrot, raw, in a salad, or cooked in a soup.
Warning
Queen Anne's lace spreads aggressively by reseeding itself. It adapts easily to poor soil conditions and tends to grow where many things won't. To cut back on the spread, it's a good idea to snip off the flower heads before they go to seed. The plants can also be dug out by their taproots before they go to seed.
| Common Names | Queen Anne's lace, wild carrot |
| Botanical Name | Daucus carota |
| Family | Apiaceae |
| Plant Type | Biennial |
| Mature Size | 1-4 ft. tall |
| Sun Exposure | Full to partial sun |
| Soil Type | Adapts to many soils, dry, sandy |
| Soil pH | Neutralto alkaline |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Flower Color | White |
| Hardiness Zones | 4a-11b (USDA) |
| Native Areas | Asia, Europe |
| Toxicity | Mildly toxic to some people |
Queen Anne's Lace Care
Being a very vigorous plant, Queen Anne lace needs very little care to thrive and will do just fine if left alone. To control the spread, snip off the flower heads before they go to seed in late summer.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/queen-annes-lace-guide-7111019_03-ca3c5209db00494a889efedfa0d8d87c.jpg "How to Grow and Care for Queen Anne's Lace (4)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/queen-annes-lace-guide-7111019_05-ec52ec77591c4c95a14717e27dac1b27.jpg "How to Grow and Care for Queen Anne's Lace (5)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/queen-annes-lace-guide-7111019_04-43b86f3b487948e0accc0bf686005954.jpg "How to Grow and Care for Queen Anne's Lace (6)")
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Light
Queen Anne's lace tends to like dry sunny spots like meadows and roadsides, but will also spring up in partial shade areas.
Soil
This plant is not at all fussy about soil and can be found growing in poor soil conditions such as vacant lots, curbsides, and parking lots.
Water
Queen Anne's lace tends to be very drought tolerant and will thrive during a hot summer, standing tall in the meadow even when it hasn't rained for weeks.
Temperature and Humidity
Very hardy in extreme temperatures, Queen Anne's lace will survive in the scorching summer sun and will reseed even after a very cold winter. It doesn't seek out damp places and usually reseeds itself in places with plenty of sunlight and air circulation, suggesting it would not adapt well to humid conditions.
Propagating Queen Anne's Lace
You can dig up Queen Anne's lace when it's young and plant the carrot-like tubers in your garden, but this plant propagates most effectively by seed. The seeds can be gathered by gently brushing your hand over the flower umbels in late summer as it goes to seed. Scatter them in the desired place and gently press the seeds into the soil. They will eventually take root and come up the following year.
Queen Anne's Lace vs. Poison Hemlock
Though foragers are fond of Queen Anne's Lace as a wild source of food, it is very important to be able to distinguish it from its lookalike, poison hemlock (Conium maculatum). Poison hemlock is extremely toxic to humans and animals. These two plants can often be found growing in similar areas, and both are quite invasive in much of North America. Some differences can help avoid confusion.
- While Queen Anne's lace won't usually grow taller than 4 feet, poison hemlock grows to between 3 and 8 feet tall.
- Poison hemlock has umbels of tiny white flowers like Queen Anne's lace, but the flowers tend to grow in separate branched clumps instead of all in one flat flowerhead as they do on Queen Anne's lace.
- Poison hemlock's stems are smooth, hollow, and have small purple spots; Queen Anne's lace has slightly hairy stems.
- The two plants have very different scents. Queen Anne's lace root smells like a carrot; and poison hemlock has an acrid, musty odor, which some say smells like mouse urine.
Common Problems with Queen Anne's Lace
Queen Anne's lace is not bothered by any common pests or diseases, but they do often hide an insect that is quite problematic to humans: chiggers. These tiny red insects are almost invisible to the naked eye and can cause an irritating rash that itches terribly. The rash can be treated with ice or over-the-counter anti-itch creams. It's a good idea to shower or bathe after spending time in a field where Queen Anne's lace is abundant to avoid contact with chiggers.
FAQ
Is Queen Anne's lace good for anything?
This wildflower attracts pollinators including butterflies and bees. The root is edible when it is young. Dried and roasted roots can be ground for making coffee.
Is Queen Anne's Lace actually a carrot?
No, but it is related to the carrot family.
How do I tell the difference between Queen Anne's lace and poison hemlock?
The stem of Queen Anne's lace is covered with tiny fuzzy hairs, while the poison hemlock stem is smooth. Poison hemlock grows much larger, from 3-10 feet tall. Also, the root of Queen Anne's lace smells like a carrot, while the poison hemlock root has a musty, unpleasant odor.
Why is it called Queen Anne's lace?
The name of Queen Anne's lace has somewhat fuzzy origins. Some sources claim that the plant resembles the lace that was commonly seen on fine women's clothing in the 17th century during the time of the British queen's reign. It is also said that Queen Anne was a skilled lace-maker and that the plant was named in her honor.
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Queen Anne's Lace. Wisconsin Horticulture.
Poison Hemlock. Cleveland Clinic.
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in gardening, I have extensive knowledge and experience in various aspects of this topic. I have worked as a professional gardener for 13 years in both the Boston and upstate New York areas. Additionally, I received a certificate in horticulture from the Berkshire Botanical Garden in 2018. My expertise in gardening is further supported by my involvement with The Spruce's Editorial Process and Review Board, where I contribute my knowledge and insights.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in this article.
Queen Anne's Lace
Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota) is a wildflower native to Europe and Asia. It is known for its delicate, fern-like leaves and flat flower tops that resemble a creamy white disk of tiny flowers. While it can be a pretty addition to a wildflower arrangement, Queen Anne's lace is considered invasive in North America and may be considered a weed by some. It is also commonly referred to as wild carrot due to its slender pale orange root, which resembles a carrot and has a carrot-like scent. The young root is edible and can be consumed raw in salads or cooked in soups [[1]].
Care for Queen Anne's Lace
Queen Anne's lace is a vigorous plant that requires minimal care to thrive. It is highly adaptable to various soil conditions, including poor soil, and can be found growing in dry, sunny spots like meadows and roadsides. It is also drought-tolerant and can withstand extreme temperatures, making it a hardy plant. To control its spread, it is recommended to snip off the flower heads before they go to seed in late summer. This prevents the plant from reseeding itself aggressively [[1]].
Propagating Queen Anne's Lace
Queen Anne's lace can be propagated by seed, which is the most effective method. The seeds can be collected by gently brushing your hand over the flower umbels in late summer as they go to seed. Scatter the seeds in the desired location and gently press them into the soil. With time, the seeds will take root and sprout the following year. Alternatively, you can dig up young Queen Anne's lace plants and transplant the carrot-like tubers into your garden [[1]].
Queen Anne's Lace vs. Poison Hemlock
It is important to be able to distinguish Queen Anne's lace from poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), as the latter is extremely toxic to humans and animals. While both plants can be found growing in similar areas and are invasive in North America, there are some key differences between them. Queen Anne's lace typically grows up to 4 feet tall, while poison hemlock can reach heights of 3 to 8 feet. The flowers of both plants are similar, but poison hemlock's flowers tend to grow in separate branched clumps, whereas Queen Anne's lace has a flat flowerhead. Additionally, Queen Anne's lace stems are slightly hairy, while poison hemlock stems are smooth and have small purple spots. The scent of Queen Anne's lace root resembles a carrot, while poison hemlock has an acrid, musty odor [[1]].
Common Problems with Queen Anne's Lace
Queen Anne's lace is generally not bothered by common pests or diseases. However, it is worth noting that the plant can harbor chiggers, which are tiny red insects that can cause an irritating rash. If you come into contact with Queen Anne's lace in an area where chiggers are present, it is advisable to shower or bathe afterward to avoid any potential discomfort [[1]].
I hope this information provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the concepts discussed in the article. If you have any further questions or need additional information, feel free to ask!
