Daucus Species, Bird's Nest, Bishop's Lace, Queen Anne's Lace, Wild Carrot
Daucus carota
Family: | Apiaceae (ay-pee-AY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Daucus (DO-kus) (Info) |
Species: | carota (kar-OH-tuh) (Info) |

Category:
Biennials
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Herbaceous
Foliage Color:
Height:
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing:
9-12 in. (22-30 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
Bloom Color:
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements:
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
Seed Collecting:
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Chandler, Arizona
Deer, Arkansas
Lamar, Arkansas
Ponca, Arkansas
GARBERVILLE, California
San Marcos, California
Fort White, Florida
Augusta, Georgia
Cordele, Georgia
Cornelia, Georgia
Locust Grove, Georgia
Thomasville, Georgia
Anna, Illinois
Divernon, Illinois
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Jacksonville, Illinois
Bremen, Indiana
Macy, Indiana
Tipton, Indiana
Iowa City, Iowa
Benton, Kentucky
Ewing, Kentucky
Harned, Kentucky
Hi Hat, Kentucky
London, Kentucky
Melbourne, Kentucky
Zachary, Louisiana
Lisbon, Maine
Brookeville, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Glyndon, Maryland
Oakland, Maryland
Valley Lee, Maryland
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Halifax, Massachusetts
Milton, Massachusetts
North Billerica, Massachusetts
Upton, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Bellaire, Michigan
Central Lake, Michigan
Constantine, Michigan
Erie, Michigan
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Mathiston, Mississippi
Cole Camp, Missouri
Joplin, Missouri
Piedmont, Missouri
Protem, Missouri
Eagle, Nebraska
Greenville, New Hampshire
Bay Shore, New York
Briarcliff Manor, New York
Himrod, New York
Beaufort, North Carolina
Franklinton, North Carolina
Fuquay Varina, North Carolina
Henderson, North Carolina
Norlina, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Ridgeway, North Carolina
Rowland, North Carolina
Youngsville, North Carolina
Galena, Ohio
Glouster, Ohio
Guysville, Ohio
Vinton, Ohio
Hulbert, Oklahoma
Blodgett, Oregon
Lebanon, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Colver, Pennsylvania
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Greencastle, Pennsylvania
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Millersburg, Pennsylvania
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Valencia, Pennsylvania
Walnutport, Pennsylvania
Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
Columbia, South Carolina
Prosperity, South Carolina
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Benton, Tennessee
Clarksville, Tennessee
Crossville, Tennessee
Dickson, Tennessee
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee(2 reports)
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Arlington, Texas
Boerne, Texas
Carrollton, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Del Valle, Texas
Kendalia, Texas
Plano, Texas
San Antonio, Texas(2 reports)
Ogden, Utah
Leesburg, Virginia
Manassas, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Spotsylvania, Virginia
Springfield, Virginia
Grand Mound, Washington
Kalama, Washington
Puyallup, Washington
Rochester, Washington
Liberty, West Virginia
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
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Negative | On Aug 5, 2019, hamptons from Watermill, NY wrote: I have blisters on my arm and face due to this plant. I'd been getting tiny little clusters of itchy spots on my legs and arms in early summer.. I thought I had bed bugs because when I looked online that was the consensus on clusters of small itchy "bites." I have QAL on my property and let it grow here and there in case swallowtails want to use it as a host plant (I've never seen them do it, btw). One big one was growing out of my hydrangea so I let it grow. Then a heavy rainstorm knocked it to the ground. There were many stalks. I took my little grass shearer and cut all the stalks, gathered them up and walked quite a length in the sun to my garage bin. Then I sprayed myself with the garden hose because I was so hot. Bad move. The next day I got what I thought might be poison ivy but it'... read more |
Positive | On Jun 12, 2017, TAVE from Bay Shore, Queen Anne's Lace does not cause a rash, nor is it toxic. Some people who have commented here have confused it with Water and Poison Hemlock, Cow and Wild Parsnip, and Giant Hogweed, all of which should be avoided. Queen Anne's Lace has hairy green stems with NO BLOTCHES, and the crushed leaves will have a carrot-like smell (although you shouldn't touch a plant unless you're positive it isn't a toxic lookalike). Here is a link to help identify Queen Anne's Lace: http://www.ravensroots.com/blog/2015/6/26/poison-hemlock-id |
Positive | On May 27, 2016, Kimmy333 from Knoxville, TN wrote: I have enjoyed this plant all my life. As a child I played in fields where it grew in the wild. I don't know if it is imported or not, but in Tennessee it is common and plentiful. I've never gotten a rash from it, and I've handled it all my life. I'm reasonably sure it's not invasive or harmful and it is lovely, a great alternative to baby's breath. Don't fear what you haven't tried. Try it and learn for yourself if you like it. |
Negative | On Apr 28, 2016, JBtheExplorer from Southeast, WI wrote: This plant is non-native and invasive in the US. Do not plant it! It spreads easily and sadly can even be found in some of the highest quality prairies and other habitats. This should never be used as a garden flower, and should be removed and replaced with more appropriate and responsible options. |
Neutral | On Dec 19, 2014, z6perennialgirl from London, KY wrote: The skin irritation caused by this plant is not from the plant itself, but from "chiggers" which are teeny tiny insects that live on the plant. When humans come in contact with the plant, the bugs jump on and start eating your skin. Many people in my area put nail polish on the spot to smother the little buggers out. |
Positive | On Jun 7, 2014, ANTDOCTOR from Augusta, GA wrote: I am surprised to see so many negative comments for Queen Anne's Lace. Unless you are one of those people who do nothing in your yard and expect miracles, then you will love Queen Anne's Lace. I bought a couple of plants several years ago and I now always have it in my garden. It is in with my day lilies and mums and does extremely well. I cut the flowers and bring them inside for beautiful arrangements. Everybody who visits my yard always comments on the beautiful Queen Anne's Lace. It does not hurt the other plants and is very easy to remove. I cut the pods and let them fall where they may. In the early spring, there may be some little plants in places where I don't want them, so I just dig them and their dirt out and plant them where I do want them. You are probably confusing ... read more |
Negative | On Mar 6, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: This is not a native wildflower in North America. It's a biennial weed that's native to Europe. Queen Anne's lace causes a contact rash, a photodermatitis, in many people. http://www.allergenica.com/Details.asp?PLANTID=212 (It is not due to chiggers, as is sometimes suggested.) [[email protected]] The pollen is allergenic. |
Negative | On Jan 21, 2014, RCCWMA from Little Canada, MN wrote: This is not a native plant (wildflower) in the USA. It does come in a lot of "Prairie in a can" or "wildflower mixes", but don't believe it. As for eating it, unless you are a botanist or are well versed in identification of the Apiacea/Umbelliferae, do not eat it. There are too many members of this family that are toxic or deadly. |
Positive | On Aug 30, 2013, Phellos from Port Vincent, LA wrote: I have always loved and tried to grow this plant. I brought some home from a roadside in a town just North of my home. It came up three years in a row, growing very slowly and dying back on occasion. The first year: no blooms. The second: several. This was the third year it finally came up. However, it stayed small and sickly and eventually died. It never self sowed in the area. At the same time, it came up everywhere in the town I got it and people mowed and used herbicide on it all year long. They never got more than a foot or so tall and would stay covered in blooms all year round, looking like cotton from a distance. |
Negative | On Aug 26, 2013, greenneck from Paoli, IN wrote: Vendors sell this? |
Positive | On Jul 4, 2010, gardenaddict1 from Protem, MO (Zone 6b) wrote: My mother loves the flower and even presses them we allow several to grow and often they can grow 4-5 feet here. I find that beneficial insects love it but it is considered invasive so check if there are restrictions to growing it in your area. As far as the burrs... some may be mistaking hemlock or water hemlock for Queen Anne's Lace which not only has tenacious burrs but is also poisonous. Queen Anne's Lace is edible and has a flavor similar to carrot but don't try it unless you are 100% sure of its identification. the seed head of Queen Anne's Lace also forms a cup looking somewhat like a bird's nest whereas the hemlock is more open. |
Positive | On May 3, 2010, Sunflower1888 from Manassas, VA wrote: I am confused about the reports of burrs. I have this wildflower in my garden and I have never encountered burrs on the plant. |
Positive | On Jul 18, 2009, mjab17 from North Billerica, MA wrote: very nice plant to grow.. you never even have to touch it and it will bloom nicely in cracks between your perannuals. if you don't like it somewhere and have nice garden soil its a lot easier to pull it up in its first year when it first sprouts... its also very easy to idenifie .. unless its growing your carrots. it also has a nice fragrance.. |
Positive | On May 17, 2009, holeth from Corpus Christi, TX (Zone 9a) wrote: Although it's obviously a weed, it's so ubiquitous that minor cultivation is no longer significant. A specimen or two for cut flowers can be likened to a neighbor with dandelions in their lawn, while there are highways and ballfields full of yellow blossoms and fluffy white puffballs. (Believe it or not, those dandelions are better for our health than rivers and streams [and therefore somebody's drinking water] full of broad-leaf herbicides.) |
Negative | On Nov 8, 2008, Kendalia from Kendalia, TX wrote: Whatever merits this plant may have, they don't compensate for the seeds that cling to everything. They are really hard to remove from hair or clothing. Also, this plant spreads and grows thickly. |
Negative | On Aug 16, 2008, buggycrazy from spokane valley, WA (Zone 5a) wrote: An introduced pest to the US and considered a noxious weed in many states-meaning it is illegal to ship plants or seed of this pest into that state. The other states have just given up. Classified as a Biennial, it is an ANNUAL here in western Oregon, it is resistant to all pre-emergent herbicides I have tried-meaning NOTHING stops it from germinating, and it blooms and seeds in one season. Mowing doesn't control it except in a turf situation, it just reblooms at a lower height and seeds anyway. Plants form a deep taproot and are very hard to pull or hoe out. Seeds stick to anything and everything so are easily spread, seed heads are very flammable so are a fire hazard here in the west where we get no summer rain. The honey produced from this pest is unfit for human consumption and ... read more |
Neutral | On Jun 28, 2008, tashmoore from Fort George G Meade, MD wrote: this grew as a weed/wildflower where I grew up. I didn't really consiter it invasive as it seemed to go away if you mowed it too much (probably from cutting the flowers before they could go to seed). |
Negative | On Nov 3, 2007, distantkin from Saint Cloud, MN (Zone 4b) wrote: On Minnesota DNR invasive list. From the website... |
Neutral | On Jun 7, 2007, renatelynne from Boerne new zone 30, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: The one I have growing all over has the barbs that take forever to get out of my dogs coat... on the other hand... the butterflies and cats love it. |
Positive | On Feb 15, 2007, WUVIE from Hulbert, OK (Zone 7a) wrote: Years ago I found QAL growing in a small area near our home. Apparently it was a gift from a bird. I gathered the seeds and tossed them about. The following year I had even more of them, |
Neutral | On Sep 2, 2006, Magpye from NW Qtr, AR (Zone 6a) wrote: Wild Carrot, Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) |
Neutral | On Oct 15, 2005, evolnaej from Austin, TX wrote: Are we talking about the same plant when we talk about Queen Anne's Lace? It sounds to me like some of us are referring to what we call Beggar's Lice or Beggar's ticks here in Texas. This twiggy "noxious weed" grows profusely by the roadsides, etc. and makes seeds that stick to everything like lice. The flower head of this plant is barely 2 inches in diameter. Then some of us are talking about that beautiful 6-inch flowerhead that appears in bouquets and has the Latin name Daucus carota. This flowerhead has a large, hollow stem several feet long. I want to grow Daucus carota/Queen Anne's Lace in my garden, and I am looking for seeds, but I sure don't need beggar's lice seeds. It would be good to know how to ask for one, but not the other. |
Negative | On Aug 16, 2005, Equilibrium wrote: Noxious weed in more than 35 states. Those who prefer to refer to this plant as a wildflower may not know the difference between a plant that is native that belongs on the continent of North America and one that is introduced that has naturalized and displaced actual native wildflowers. A nice alternative which is exceedingly more beautiful and stately would be Heracleum lanatum. |
Negative | On May 5, 2005, stephpaige from The Colony, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: BEWARE: DO NOT PLANT THIS UNLESS YOU CAN KEEP THIS UNDER CONTROL! |
Positive | On May 5, 2005, Breezymeadow from Culpeper, VA (Zone 7a) wrote: I adore Queen Anne's Lace - it is definitely one of my favorite wildflowers. I let several fields on my property go ungroomed for wildlife, & am able to gather armloads of this airy flower for bouquets for most of the summer. And as someone else stated, it is an attractor of beneficial insects. |
Positive | On May 4, 2005, desertqueen from Dallas area, TX (Zone 7b) wrote: Queen Anne's Lace is in the Umbelliferae plant family (carrot family) and is a food source for beneficial insects. Keep Queen Anne's Lace in your garden, it will attract beneficial insects. The beneficial's will gobble up all the pesky insects and do the work for you! Plants in the Umbelliferae family are known to attract those helpful insects. Queen Anne's Lace is a gardener's friend. |
Neutral | On Sep 29, 2004, imway2dumb from Gordonville, TX (Zone 7b) wrote: It produces a bazillion seeds that cling to everything and are difficult to remove from my socks! DW likes them in flower arrangements. It is a noxious weed to me! |
Positive | On Jun 13, 2004, melody from Benton, KY (Zone 7a) wrote: Although it spreads like wildfire, I enjoy Queen Anne's Lace everywhere I see it. I've never seen it so thick that it crowds out other plants, instead, it's a lovely addition to a wildflower meadow and along roadsides. |
Positive | On Jun 3, 2004, foodiesleuth from Honomu, HI (Zone 11) wrote: I wish I could grow Queen Anne's Lace in Hawaii. When I lived in SC I would go and collect them from the sides of the road to use in arrangements with other flowers. I planted some in my yard, but it never did much. |
Positive | On Jun 2, 2004, wilbur533 from Sedro Woolley, WA wrote: Last year one grew in my greenhouse. It got started in the raised bed where I had some ginger root from the grocery store planted.I let it grow. I thought it was Ginger Root. I thought the store people had sold me a type of Ginger Root that didn't look like the pictures in the plant books. Nine feet tall and six feet wide. WHAT A PRETTY PLANT!!! |
Positive | On Mar 5, 2004, frostweed from Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: I find Queen Anne,s lace to be a lovely flower and also very reliable. |
Positive | On Aug 23, 2003, mlucas from Central Lake, MI wrote: I live in Northern Michigan and Queen Anne's Lace is in abundance. It can be used as a home remedy in tea or as |
Positive | On Aug 13, 2003, PaisleyPat from Minneapolis, MN wrote: Queen Anne's Lace is a lovely wildflower to which I have donated 20 square feet in my garden. I make bouquets of daisys, lillies, roses, Iris, glads, and more thru the summer and they are all more beautiful with lots of Queen Anne's Lace to set them off. I have never lost a plant to this lovely flower. |
Positive | On Aug 12, 2003, davecwik from Smiths Creek, MI wrote: many in those 35 states prefer to call it a wildflower |
Negative | On Aug 26, 2002, smiln32 from Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) wrote: Considered a noxious weed in at least 35 states. |