# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 61 - **Habitat:** Fields, Roadsides - **Also known as:** Bird's Nest, Queen Anne's Lace Flower, Wild Carrot ![Queen Anne's Lace](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Daucus_carota.jpg&width=800) Photo: User:Tigerente, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daucus_carota.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Apiales - **Family:** Apiaceae - **Genus:** Daucus ## 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 - **Taproot Pantry:** Queen Anne's Lace has a strong taproot that stores energy, helping it grow quickly in its second year. - **Hitchhiker Seeds:** Its seeds have tiny hooks that let them easily stick to animal fur or clothes, traveling to new places. - **Sun Tracker:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on leaves and stems ## Traits - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/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 ### What is Queen Anne's Lace's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/armstrong-redwoods-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park - [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Benbow Lake State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/benbow-lake-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Calico Rock Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calico-rock-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Cape Charles Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-charles-historic-district) — US · Historic District [View all places to see Queen Anne's Lace](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/queen-annes-lace) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Queen Anne's Lace: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/queen-annes-lace)