Queen Anne’s Lace Care Guide: How to Grow Queen Anne’s Lace

Queen Anne's lace (*Daucus carota*) is a taproot wildflower that is a member of the parsley family (or carrot family), *Apiaceae*. It is known by other common names including wild carrot, bird's nest, bishop's lace, and devil's plague. Queen Anne's lace plant is primarily known for its tiny white flower clusters, which grow in an inflorescence called an umbel. Each Queen Anne's lace umbel can contain upwards of one thousand flowers. This plant has hairy stems and attracts pollinators such as ladybugs and butterflies. Queen Anne's lace grows readily throughout much of the northern hemisphere. In some regions—including Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Washington state—it is considered a noxious weed and invasive species that crowds native plants. In other areas, it coexists better with native species. Home gardeners may be drawn to the feathery Queen Anne's lace flower and its edible roots, which bear resemblance to a cultivated carrot. Queen Anne's lace is a biennial plant , which means it takes two years to go through its biological life cycle. 1. __Plant seeds in the early fall__. Wild plants of this species naturally propagate in early fall, so this is a good time to plant seeds of Queen Anne's lace. Scatter seeds over moist soil and water them regularly until new plants are established. 2. __Plant Queen Anne’s lace in a sunny spot__. This plant thrives in full sunlight but can also tolerate partial shade. It is most likely to succeed in USDA hardiness zones three through nine. 3. __Use well-draining soil__. Loamy, nutrient-poor soil is best, but it can also handle chalky soil, sandy soil, and even a little bit of clay soil provided that it drains well. 4. __Water Queen Anne’s lace sparingly__. While seedlings need regular moisture, mature Queen Anne's lace does best in relatively dry soil. If established in its natural habitat, this plant does not need to be watered or fertilized. 5. __Deadhead your plants to control growth__. Queen Anne’s lace self-propagates quickly, so consider [deadheading](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-deadhead-flowers-in-your-garden) your crop before it spawns an entire yard of invasive plants. 6. __Be patient__. In its first year of life, the plant’s resources will be spent on growing a taproot system and a stalk. In the second year, flowers will appear. Most flowers are white, although on some plants, purple flowers appear at the center of an otherwise white floret. The entire Queen Anne’s lace plant is edible and non-toxic. You can dry Queen Anne’s lace seed heads and put them in tea. The roots are also edible—they resemble a cultivated carrot but are notably less flavorful. Take note that several Queen Anne's lace look-alikes are toxic and should be avoided. These include water hemlock (*Cicuta spp.*), poison hemlock (*Conium maculatum*), and fool’s parsley (*Aethusa cynapium*). You can often distinguish these poisonous plants from Queen Anne's lace by smelling them. Queen Anne's lace has a sweet fragrance similar to that of carrots, while the other plants do not. That said, it’s best to avoid ingesting a plant of unverified origin. Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community - and the world - a better place. Also known as wild carrot, Queen Anne's lace is a fragrant, edible, and aesthetically pleasing plant.