Queen Anne's Lace
Queen Anne's lace is the common name for *Daucus carota*, a biennial flowering plant in the carrot family (*Apiaceae*).
Queen Anne's lace is the common name for *Daucus carota*, a biennial flowering plant in the carrot family (Apiaceae). Also known as wild carrot, it is native to Europe and parts of western Asia but has become naturalized and often invasive in North America. The plant is recognized for its flat-topped clusters of small white flowers and its close relationship to the cultivated carrot.
Description
Queen Anne's lace is an upright biennial herb with finely divided leaves, a taproot, and white flower umbels that may curl inward as seeds mature. Its lacy flower clusters, which appear in summer, are the source of the common name.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to Europe and western Asia and has been widely introduced elsewhere. In North America, it is common in dry fields, roadsides, waste places, and other disturbed, sunny sites. In Canada, it is naturalized in southern provinces and commonly encountered along roadsides and fields.
Ecology and status
Queen Anne's lace reproduces by seed and can spread aggressively in disturbed habitats. It can compete with native plants in disturbed grasslands and prairie restorations, and in some jurisdictions it is considered invasive or a restricted noxious weed.
Relationship to carrots
Queen Anne's lace is the wild form of *Daucus carota* and is closely related to the domesticated carrot. Both forms belong to the same species, with garden carrots selected for enlarged edible roots. The plant can hybridize with cultivated carrots grown for seed.
Key facts
- Queen Anne's lace is a biennial plant in the carrot family, also known as wild carrot.
- It produces flat-topped clusters of white flowers in summer.
- It is native to Europe and western Asia but naturalized and often invasive in North America.
- It is closely related to the cultivated carrot and can hybridize with it.
- The plant can cause skin irritation in sensitive people.
Queen Anne's lace is naturalized in Canada and occurs in southern provinces; Canadian readers are most likely to encounter it along roadsides, fields, and other disturbed sunny sites.
Frequently asked questions
What is Queen Anne's lace?
Is Queen Anne's lace the same as wild carrot?
Where does Queen Anne's lace grow?
Is Queen Anne's lace invasive?
Is Queen Anne's lace related to garden carrots?
References
- Wisconsin Horticulture — https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/queen-annes-lace-daucus-carota/Supports: Common name, scientific name, family, and habitat in open disturbed areas.
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources — https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/herbaceous/queenannslace.htmlSupports: Invasive status, habitats invaded, wild carrot relationship, and restricted noxious weed status in Minnesota.
- EDDMapS — https://www.eddmaps.org/species/subject.cfm?sub=5514Supports: Life cycle, reproduction by seed, native range, and relation to cultivated carrot.
- NC State University Plant Toolbox — https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/daucus-carota/Supports: Biennial habit, naturalization, invasive status in some states, habitat, and contact dermatitis note.
- Britannica Kids — https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Queen-Annes-lace/276617Supports: General description, common names, size, family, and Eurasian origin.