What does Queen Anne's Lace Look Like?
Queen Anne's Lace earned its common name from a legend that tells of Queen Anne of England (1665-1714) pricking her finger and a drop of blood landed on white lace she was sewing. Belonging to the carrot family, Queen Anne's lace is a biennial that is also known as wild carrot. Early Europeans cultivated Queen Anne's lace, and the Romans ate it as a vegetable. American colonists boiled the taproots, sometimes in wine as a treat. Interestingly, Queen Anne's lace is high in sugar (second only to the beet among root vegetables). While in most places the plant is now considered an invasive weed, it can actually be an attractive addition to the home in a wildflower garden. Distinguishing Features Queen Anne's Lace flower resembles lace, and frequently the flower has a solitary purple dot in the center. In addition, the root smells like carrots! Flowers Queen Anne's Lace flowers have a flat-topped white umbel, sometimes with a solitary purple flower in the center. These flowers bloom from late spring until mid-fall. Each flower cluster is made up of numerous tiny white flowers. The flower cluster start curled up and opens to allow pollination. The cluster then rolls itself shut again, like a reverse umbrella when it goes to seed at the end of the season. Leaves Feathery leaves resemble those of the domestic carrot. The bases of leafstalks are broad and flat. Queen Anne's Lace leaves also closely resemble the leaves of the poison hemlock, fool's parsley and water hemlocks, all poisonous cousins of Queen Anne's lace. Height Wild carrot can grow tall; most average about 1 meter tall. Habitat Queen Anne's Lace is found in fields, meadows, waste areas, roadsides, and disturbed habitats. They are very hardy and thrive in a dry environment. Control Once Queen Anne’s Lace is established it can be difficult to control. The best control is having a thick lush lawn by aerating and seeding each season along with proper mowing habits. Mostly problematic in fields and pastures it can become a lawn nuisance. Due to being in the carrot family, it has a sturdy taproot that is laborious to uproot. Hand pull during the first growing season, or before the plant flowers/seeds in its second season; trying not to leave any small pieces of the root. Your lawn technician will consult you if additional control methods are needed.
