Did you know Queen Anne’s lace is related to the carrot?

Q: The plant in the photo came up in our carrot patch. It appears to be Queen Anne’s lace. What do you think? — Roger S.

A: Queen Anne’s lace is often called wild carrot, because it’s the native European plant from which our cultivated carrots were developed. The carrots we grow in the garden and Queen Anne’s lace are very similar in many ways.

Carrots and Queen Anne’s lace are both biennials, meaning they grow one year and flower the second year, then die. Both have similar white flower clusters and leaves, although Queen Anne’s lace usually has a hairy root.

If carrots are left in the garden over winter, or if we plant stored carrot roots the next spring, they produce their white flower clusters that second season, as does Queen Anne’s lace. Carrot seed is produced that way.

Carrot