Plant Profile: Daucus carota

Queen Anne's Lace, a biennial wildflower from the carrot family, is a summer bloom that was brought over from Europe and is deemed invasive in certain states, including North Carolina. It has successfully established itself in various regions and thrives in sunny to partially shaded areas such as roadsides, abandoned fields, and other disturbed sites.

In its second year, this plant produces clusters of delicate white flowers, known as umbels, which can reach heights of 2 to 4 feet and bloom from mid-summer to mid-fall, giving them a lace-like appearance. The plant's basal rosette features arching leaves that can grow up to 5 inches long, with a few leaves arranged alternately along the main stem.

Queen Anne's Lace is highly adaptable, flourishing in a range of soil types and pH levels, and it prefers sunny to partially shaded environments. Its long taproot makes it challenging to remove, and it is advisable not to cultivate this species in perennial gardens due to its tendency to spread aggressively.