Guide for Cultivating Daucus carota: Explore the Suitability of Queen Anne's Lace Blooms for Laid-Back, Natural Garden Borders

Wild Carrot, aka Queen Anne's Lace: This pretty flower is recognized for its intricate, lace-like appearance and welcomed in laid-back bouquets. It's a bee-magnet and fits perfectly in wildlife-friendly gardens. However, it's generally viewed as a pesky weed due to its invasive nature in many U.S. states. So, proceed with caution – research if it's a no-go in your local area before planting.

If you're determined to include it in your backyard garden, check out the pro tips below to grow a mesmerizing display. From properly seeding to knowing when to water, these expert tips will have your Queen Anne's Lace thriving.

Growing Queen Anne's Lace

The frothy tops and feathery leaves of Queen Anne's Lace complement cottage garden schemes or rewilded sections of your yard – be prepared for it to spread aggressively!

Growing Habits for Queen Anne's Lace

Like foxgloves, Queen Anne's Lace is a biennial – it flowers and drops its seeds in its second year before expiring. It can grow up to four feet tall and can be spotted in the wild in meadows or open spaces.

You're unlikely to find pot-grown Queen Anne's Lace in nurseries or garden centers, but seed packets are widely available online. According to Allison Zeeb of seed company Sahin – Takii Europe, to get it started, you'll want to sow its tiny seeds directly outdoors a few weeks before your last spring frost – 'It loves a little chill to get those roots going.'

'Just lightly press the seeds into the soil surface; they need a bit of sunlight to sprout,' Allison continues. 'If you're in a warmer spot, a fall sowing means earlier blooms next year. While you can try starting them indoors, it's generally not recommended because they have a sensitive taproot that really dislikes being disturbed.'

Allison Zeeb is the Account and Product Manager for North and South America at Sahin – Takii Europe, where she's front and center of connecting plants, people, and innovation across the global floriculture industry. With a fierce passion for horticulture and sustainable development, Allison manages customer relationships and product development throughout North America, helping to expand Sahin's flower network and introduce new varieties to diverse markets.

Care Guide for Queen Anne's Lace

Soil: For soil, think loose, well-draining, and not too rich. Too much nitrogen can result in more leaves than flowers.
Light: Justin Hancock, horticulturist at Costa Farms, advises that full sun (at least eight hours per day) is best, but it'll continue to grow and bloom in a spot with morning shade and afternoon sun. The less direct light it receives, the less it'll bloom. If you're okay with its foliage and not too concerned with flowers, you can grow it in almost full shade.
Watering: 'Once established, it's pretty drought-tolerant, so you probably won't need to water it at all once it gets going,' Justin says. 'But like any plant, it needs to mature and settle in before you can consider it drought-tolerant. And like most plants, it'll grow and bloom better if you water it during droughty periods. Drought-tolerant means it survives drought; it won't truly thrive in droughty conditions.'
Fertilizing: According to Allison, Queen Anne's Lace generally isn't a hungry plant, so fertilizing isn't usually necessary unless your soil is seriously deficient. Justin suggests you might see better results if you incorporate organic matter, like compost, into the planting area rather than using a fertilizer. 'Organic matter doesn't provide as much nutrition as a fertilizer, but it encourages beneficial microorganisms in the soil that are just as (if not more) helpful to your plant.' If you choose to use a fertilizer, he suggests any general-purpose one will do.
Pruning: Deadheading the flowers before they go to seed will prevent them from spreading throughout your garden, or you could opt to collect them and sow them in designated areas.
Toxicity: Queen Anne's Lace isn't poisonous, but it has some poisonous lookalikes, including poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) and water hemlock (Cicuta douglasii) – both of which are deadly. Because of the risk of confusion, steer clear of consuming Queen Anne's Lace or anything that resembles it, and keep it out of reach of children and pets, too. Also, be mindful that Queen Anne's Lace may cause skin irritation in some individuals.

Justin Hancock is a Costa Farms horticulturist with over 25 years in the industry. An avid plant enthusiast and educator, he has a degree in Horticultural Science and has worked in garden centers and botanical gardens, as a garden designer, and in garden publishing (including at Better our website). He has gardening experience across the country, from Minnesota to Oregon to Miami. Justin is also co-host of the Costa Farms podcast Plant Rx.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there other plants that resemble Queen Anne's Lace?

Absolutely – aside from the deadly poison hemlock and water hemlock, other plants that resemble Queen Anne's Lace include Ammi majus (often called false Queen's Anne's Lace, available from Burpee), yarrow, and cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris).

Is Queen Anne's Lace susceptible to pests?

Yes, according to the Royal Horticultural Society, young Queen Anne's Lace plants might be susceptible to pest troubles such as carrot fly, as well as snails and slugs. You can help ward off slugs and snails by using coffee grounds or a homemade garlic spray.

If you're a fan of the wildflower look in your yard, it's time to reevaluate this weed. And if it gets too rambunctious, you can dig some up by the roots. Alternatively, there are plenty of other striking white flowers to choose from, from the satin-like cosmos blooms to refined and elegant gauras.

Accessorize Your Flowerbed

25,000 Seeds - Want to plant more pollinator-friendly blooms? This bulk bag includes 18 flower varieties for a vibrant summer display.

Variety of Sizes - Whether you opt for the green or the blue floral design, keep your fingers protected from potential irritation with these attractive gardening gloves.

Highly Rated - Make deadheading your Queen Anne's Lace a breeze with these popular Felco snips, designed to smooth over untidy appearances and maintain control over its spread.

Incorporating Queen Anne's Lace into home-and-garden settings would align well with a lifestyle that appreciates wildflowers and gardening. With proper cultivation techniques, this flower can thrive in a home garden, complementing cottage garden schemes or rewilded sections of your yard.

To grow Queen Anne's Lace successfully, you need to sow its seeds directly outdoors a few weeks before your last spring frost, press them lightly into the soil's surface, and ensure they get a bit of sunlight to sprout. Avoid starting the seeds indoors due to their sensitive taproot; it usually isn't recommended.