Queen Anne’s Lace

Biological Name:

Daucus carota (Queen-Anne’s-Lace)

Natural Habitat:

Queen-Anne’s-Lace is a wildflower with a distinctive, lacy white flower head. It is also known as wild carrot, and its root has been used as a herbal remedy.

Description:

Queen-Anne’s-Lace is a tall hairy biennial weed with white umbrella-shaped flowers. It is commonly found in meadows fields and other open disturbed areas.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How poisonous is Queen Anne’s lace?
A: Coming into contact with Queen Anne’s lace will not cause a problem for many people, but those with sensitive skin may develop irritation or blistering, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Ingesting parts of the plant can be toxic for some people and animals, however.
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Q: Does Queen Anne’s lace carry chiggers?
A: The crocheted doily-looking plant was first introduced into the U.S. from Europe. The carrots you eat today once were cultivated from this plant. But the Queen has her downside. She harbors tiny pests called chiggers.
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Q: Is Queen Anne’s lace toxic to dogs?
A: Native to Europe, queen Anne’s lace thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 11. A biennial, the flowers appear in its second year of growth. While the leaves may be poisonous if eaten in large doses, in general queen Anne’s lace is not toxic to humans or dogs.
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Q: How do you tell the difference between poison hemlock and Queen Anne’s lace?
A: The stem of Queen Anne’s lace will be hairy it will have hairs fine hairs all the way up the stem. And no spots whereas poison hemlock will be a smooth stem with purple blotches. The flowers of both species are white and bloom in an umbrella shape pattern (called an umbel).
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Q: Is Queen Anne’s lace toxic to cats?
A: The toxic components of the false Queen Anne’s lace plant are primarily furanocoumarins and nitrates. Upon ingestion, these toxic elements cause photosensitization to the feline, or exudative and ulcerative dermatitis.
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Q: What is Queen Anne’s lace good for?
A: Many people consider Queen Anne’s lace an invasive weed (it is listed as a noxious weed in at least 35 states), but it is used by some native animals for food. It is a host plant for eastern black swallowtail caterpillars and many butterflies and adult bees and beneficial insects utilize the flower nectar.
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Q: Is Wild Queen Anne’s lace poisonous?
A: Queen Anne’s lace is a wild edible (the root) and given that it typically does grow in the same conditions as poison hemlock, being able to tell the difference could save your life. Plus, you’ll want to know if you have it growing on your property because it’s also toxic to pets and livestock.
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Q: Does Queen Anne’s lace smell good?
A: Biennial herbaceous plant, one to four feet tall. Also known as wild carrot, Queen Anne’s lace smells like a carrot and is the ancestor of the garden carrot.
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Q: Does Queen Anne’s lace have chiggers?
A: The crocheted doily-looking plant was first introduced into the U.S. from Europe. The carrots you eat today once were cultivated from this plant. But the Queen has her downside. She harbors tiny pests called chiggers.
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Q: Are baby’s breath and Queen Anne’s lace the same?
A: Queen Anne’s Lace is similar to Baby’s Breath with its tiny and delicate clusters of small white flowers, however, these clusters are located at the top of the stem and create kind of a starburst pattern, or a flat topped umbel (think of an upside down umbrella), rather than scattered along the stems like Baby’s Breath …
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Q: Can you pick Queen Anne’s lace?
A: Harvest Queen Anne’s Lace flowering stems in the morning, after the dew is gone. Cut the stems longer than you will need, using a sharp knife or sharp hand shears. Place the cut stems in a container of water as you harvest them.
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Q: Can you cook with Queen Anne’s lace?
A: Queen Anne’s Lace roots are small and woody, and even after extended boiling, they are too fibrous to be pleasant eating. Use it as an aromatic in soups and stews, but as a flavoring only, to be removed before serving. The foliage of QAL has a fresh, vaguely carroty flavor. You can use it instead of parsley.
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Q: Is Queen Anne’s lace actually a carrot?
A: Cultivated carrots are, in fact, a subspecies of wild carrot (a.k.a. Queen Anne’s lace) – they are essentially the same thing (they share the same scientific name – Daucus carota), we’ve just selected for larger, sweeter, less bitter roots.
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Q: Can Queen Anne’s lace be eaten raw?
A: Queen Anne’s Lace: The white flower head is edible raw or lightly battered and fried. The seeds work well in soups and stews and can flavor tea, too. If you catch these plants early enough, you can eat the roots and leaves.
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Q: Why is Queen Anne’s lace a problem?
A: You may be surprised to find the dainty Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota),is considered a noxious weed in at least 35 states and invasive in many. Brought here from Europe you’ll find it growing along roadsides, in disturbed sites, and abandoned fields. Its aggressive nature makes it a threat to some native plants.
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Q: Can you touch Queen Annes lace?
A: CAUTION: May cause phytophotodermatitis where sap touches the skin and is exposed to sunlight; wear long sleeves if handling. Also can easily be confused with the native, yet deadly, poison hemlock. Queen Anne’s lace should be reported.
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Q: What does Queen Anne’s lace smell like?
A: Queen Anne’s lace has fuzzy green stems and leaves with a distinctive fresh, carroty smell and that purple dot in the center of the flower.
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Q: What animal eats Queen Anne’s lace?
A: Queen Anne’s Lace is an invasive weed because it crowds and competes with native plants. Some animals have benefited from it. Caterpillars of the Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly eat the leaves, bees and other insects drink the nectar.
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Q: Is Queen Anne’s lace safe for dogs?
A: If you believe your dog ingested a part of the False Queen Anne’s lace plant, alert your veterinarian. False Queen Anne’s lace is a delicate flower many people have in their homes and gardens due to its pleasing appearance. This plant, however, is toxic to your dog if he ingests a part of it.
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Q: Is Queen Annes lace edible?
A: The flowers of the wild carrot, or Queen Anne’s Lace, are as edible as the stringy root — but the culinary gem is its fruit.
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Q: How do you tell poison hemlock from Queen Anne’s lace?
A: The stems of both poison-hemlock and Queen Anne’s lace are hollow, but poison-hemlock will have small purple spots all over its smooth stem, according to the USDA. Queen Anne’s lace has no purple spots and is hairy, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Q: What looks like Queen Anne’s lace but is poisonous?
A: Poison hemlock is toxic to humans and animals, resulting in external blisters from skin contact and life-threatening respiratory failure if inhaled or ingested. Not only is the plant extremely dangerous, but it’s also easily mistaken for a nontoxic look-alike: Queen Anne’s Lace.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.