Queen Anne's Lace

Daucus carota

Queen Anne's Lace is a delicate wildflower with lacy white flowers that look like tiny snowflakes. It grows in fields and along roadsides, attracting butterflies and bees with its sweet nectar.

Habitat: Fields, Roadsides

Appearance

The Queen Anne's Lace has flat-topped clusters of tiny white flowers, creating a delicate, lacy appearance. Often, a single dark red or purple flower sits at the center of the main cluster, making it distinct. Its leaves are finely divided and feathery.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderApialesFamilyApiaceaeGenusDaucus

Photo: User:TigerenteCC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Queen Anne's Lace

Interesting facts

Early American colonists used its seeds to make a natural yellow dye!

It can grow almost anywhere, even in poor soil, making it super adaptable!

The tiny dark dot in its center may trick insects into visiting more flowers.

This plant is the wild ancestor of all domesticated carrots we eat today!

Special abilities

Queen Anne's Lace has a strong taproot that stores energy, helping it grow quickly in its second year.

Its seeds have tiny hooks that let them easily stick to animal fur or clothes, traveling to new places.

The flower clusters can flatten in the sun and curl inward like a cup at night to protect the blooms.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-150 cm
Spread: 30-60 cm
Flower Size: 5-10 cm
Bloom Season: Summer
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Biennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

Pollinates

Honeybee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar and pollen

Eats

Black Swallowtail

Papilio polyxenes

larvae feed on leaves and flowers

Shelter

Seven-spotted Ladybug

Coccinella septempunctata

finds cover among the dense flowers

Eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

browses on leaves and stems

Traits

Biennial

Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.

Cluster Flower

Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.

Spring Blooming

Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Edible

Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.

Also known as

Bird's NestQueen Anne's Lace FlowerWild Carrot

Collections

Flowers Plants

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Enjoy looking at Queen Anne's Lace, but do not touch or eat wild plants without an adult's permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Queen Anne's Lace?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How tall is Queen Anne's Lace?

30-150 cm

How wide does Queen Anne's Lace spread?

30-60 cm

How big are the flowers on Queen Anne's Lace?

5-10 cm

When does Queen Anne's Lace bloom?

Summer

Is Queen Anne's Lace edible?

Yes

Is Queen Anne's Lace toxic?

Mild