Is it the same as a garden carrot?

It is the wild progenitor, but the root is much thinner and more fibrous than cultivated varieties.

How do I tell it apart from poison hemlock?

Poison hemlock has smooth, purple-spotted stems and lacks the fine hairs found on wild carrot stems.

Plant guide

Wild Carrot.

Daucus carota subsp. carota

Pronounced DAW-kus ka-RO-ta

Also known as Daucus carota subsp. carota, Queen Ann's Lace, Queen Anne's lace, Queen Anne's-lace, Queen's-lace, Salosi

Wild carrot is a charming biennial wildflower often called Queen Anne's lace. It produces intricate, flat topped clusters of tiny white flowers that look like delicate lace. You'll often spot it growing along roadsides and in open fields.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Biennial
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: direct
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 100 cm tall
Growth rate: medium
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to early autumn

Care

This plant thrives in sunny, open areas with well drained soil. It is very low maintenance, but keep an eye out for aphids or powdery mildew if the air circulation is poor. Ensure it has plenty of space to spread, as it can self seed quite freely.

Watering: Water deeply during dry spells to keep the soil lightly moist.
Feeding: Wild carrots generally do not require supplemental fertilizer.
Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers if you want to prevent unwanted self seeding.
Repotting: This plant is typically grown directly in the ground and does not require repotting.
Soil: Well drained, sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: -20 to 35°C
Humidity: 30 to 60%
Drought tolerance: high
Lifespan: Biennial, typically 2 years.
Deer and rabbits: moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots circling the bottom of the pot.
Stunted growth despite regular watering.

Safety

People: The foliage can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to furanocoumarins.
Pets: This plant can cause skin irritation in some pets due to furanocoumarins in the leaves.
Children: The foliage can cause skin irritation if handled, and the root should never be consumed by children without expert verification to avoid toxic lookalikes.
Contact allergens: Handling the foliage in bright sunlight can lead to phytophotodermatitis, causing rashes or blisters.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is generally not considered a major allergen for most people.
Edibility: Wild carrot roots can be confused with poisonous hemlock, which is deadly, so never harvest unless you are 100 percent certain of identification.

How to identify it

Flat topped white flower clusters
Finely divided fern like foliage
Single dark purple central floret
Hairy stems and leaves
Taproot smells like garden carrots

Height: 0.3 to 1m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.4m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 5 to 15cm
Fruit: brown, Autumn

Common problems

Carrot rust fly — The larvae tunnel into the roots, causing damage and decay.
Powdery mildew — A white fungal growth appears on the leaves during humid conditions.

Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: Spring, Autumn
Overwintering: The plant survives winter as a low-growing rosette of leaves. No special protection is needed as it is quite hardy.
In containers: It can grow in deep containers, but it is rarely kept in pots due to its long taproot.

Seed Sowing

Collect seeds from dried flower heads in late summer.
Sow seeds directly into well-drained soil in autumn or early spring.
Press seeds lightly into the soil surface without burying them deep.
Keep the soil moist until germination occurs.

Planting aromatic herbs nearby helps confuse pests that target members of the carrot family.

Grows well with

Onion — Onions help mask the scent of carrots from carrot rust flies.
Leek — Leeks provide similar pest-deterring benefits as onions.
Lettuce — They grow well together without competing for space or nutrients.

Keep away from

Dill — They can cross-pollinate and compete for similar resources.
Fennel — Fennel produces allelopathic chemicals that can inhibit the growth of nearby carrots.

Similar species

Poison Hemlock — This is a deadly lookalike that lacks the hairy stems of wild carrot.
Yarrow — Yarrow has similar flat-topped flower clusters but features fern-like foliage.

Science

Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Daucus
Order: Apiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and southwestern Asia.
Conservation: This plant is considered a widespread weed in many regions and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed soils and open fields, acting as a pioneer species in early successional habitats.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, beneficial insect habitat
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, beetles
Uses: pollinator garden, wildflower meadow, cut flower

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it the same as a garden carrot?: It is the wild progenitor, but the root is much thinner and more fibrous than cultivated varieties.
How do I tell it apart from poison hemlock?: Poison hemlock has smooth, purple-spotted stems and lacks the fine hairs found on wild carrot stems.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Daucus comes from the Greek word for carrot, while carota is the Latin term for the root. The common name Queen Annes Lace refers to the legend that Queen Anne pricked her finger while making lace, leaving a single drop of blood in the center of the flower.

Good to know

It is the wild ancestor of the common garden carrot.
The plant is biennial, meaning it grows leaves the first year and flowers the second.
It is often called Queen Annes Lace because the flower looks like delicate white lace.
The root is edible but becomes woody and tough by the second year.

Is your wild carrot looking unwell?

This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.