Queen Anne’s Lace is a lovely wildflower that blooms into clusters of white flowers known as “umbels.”
Also known as wild carrot, Queen Anne’s Lace is a plant seen almost everywhere due to its high adaptability.
That’s why I recommend it if you need a low-maintenance lawn or garden plant.
Originally brought to the US as a medicinal plant, this airy-looking biennial was domesticated and now grows wild around North America.
I’ve made this quick guide to share what I’ve learned about growing this biennial, including its soil, water, and sunlight preferences.
A Closer Look at Queen Anne’s Lace
Scientific Name: Daucus carota
Family: Apiaceae
Other Common Names: Wild Carrot, Bee’s Nest-plant, Devil’s Plague, Bird’s Nest
Hardiness Zones: 4a-11b USDA
Native Countries/Regions: Europe and Southwest Asia
I’ve found Queen Anne’s Lace growing wild in many areas, including roadsides, farm pastures, dry fields, and open ditches.
Legend says this wildflower got its name from its clusters of flower heads, which looked like Queen Anne’s lace headdress from the 18th century.
Interestingly, it’s called Wild Carrot because the carrots we know today came from a cultivated version of Queen Anne’s Lace.
Queen Anne’s Lace is a biennial plant that only flowers in its second year.
They typically bloom from May to October and can grow up to 4 feet tall with compound flowers ranging from 2 to 4 inches in width.
As the seeds ripen, the inflorescence curls inwards resembling a bird’s nest.
Seeds with bristles appear at the end of each flower stalk, ready to attach to anything that comes past them.
Queen Anne’s Lace as a Potentially Invasive Species
The spread of this plant in North America is considered potentially invasive because it isn’t native.
It originated in Europe and Southwest Asia.
It’s such an adaptable plant that it often competes with other plants for resources and often outpaces them in growth and spread.
It’s noted as a noxious weed in at least 35 states.
However, it benefits the habitat in many ways, such as its leaves being a food source for animals and the flowers providing nectar for bees and butterflies.
If you want to prevent them from spreading or becoming invasive, I recommend removing the seed heads before maturity.
This will prevent them from spreading.
Differentiating Queen Anne’s Lace From Hemlock
Queen Anne’s Lace is often confused with Hemlock.
However, I’ve noticed a few differences between the two that should help you distinguish between them.
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) has a smooth and hollow stem with purple and reddish-brown blotches.
Queen Anne’s Lace has a green and hairy stem without blotches.
Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) and Poison Hemlock are similar in appearance and both are poisonous.
Remember to never ingest these plants.
Other plants that Queen Anne’s Lace are typically confused with include those from the parsley family and other wildflower species like Wild Parsnip.
Potential Allergic Reactions
Queen Anne’s Lace can cause allergic reactions in certain people such as those allergic to celery.
Skin contact with the flower and plant can cause dermatitis, blisters, and skin irritation.
This, coupled with its similarity in appearance to hemlock, is why many authorities caution against interacting with the plant in the wild.
Creating the Perfect Growing Environment
Making Queen Anne’s Lace flowers bloom requires the proper growing environment, including the right growing space, soil pH levels, and watering frequency.
Designating a Growing Space
While this flower can be grown indoors, I’ve found that the perfect growing space for Queen Anne’s Lace is outdoors where there is plenty of sunlight and not too much humidity.
The planting area should not be too wet or humid.
This is because it reseeds itself in places with a lot of air circulation and sunlight, so heavily shaded and moist areas are not ideal.
Ideal Soils
One of the best characteristics of Queen Anne’s Lace is that it isn’t fussy about soil type.
It’s very adaptable and I’ve found it growing untended in various areas like beside the road and in parking lots.
However, for the best growth, I recommend planting your wild carrots in loamy, moist soil.
pH Levels
The best soil pH level for Queen Anne’s Lace is neutral to basic, around 6.5 to 7.5 or higher, but not too extreme.
Watering Frequency
The high resilience and adaptability of Queen Anne’s Lace means you don’t need to water the plant too often, especially if it rains occasionally.
Water it once a week during its growing season around springtime.
Once the weather grows warmer, water it 2-3 times per week.
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