Backyard Gardening

By Kathryn Dorman

Even though I’m not a big fan of white flowers, I’ve been exploring Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota).  After doing research, I now feel compelled to compare it to its doppelganger, poison hemlock (Conium maculatum).  Both of these plants are native to Eurasia.  Queen Anne’s lace, also called bird’s nest or wild carrot, may have been brought to America by early settlers to be used for medicinal purposes.  Poison hemlock, which is also called fool’s parsley, was introduced in the 1800’s as an ornamental plant.  What were they thinking!?   

Having been introduced to our continent, Queen Anne’s lace and poison hemlock have both become naturalized throughout most of North America.  Both can easily be found at roadsides, along field edges, and in waste areas.  Both are so adaptable that they crowd out native species.  They are both considered invasive species, although Queen Anne’s lace can be controlled by cutting back the plants before they flower.  The domesticated carrots (Daucus carota subspecies sativus) that are consumed around the world today were developed from Queen Anne’s lace.  As the name implies, poison hemlock is deadly when any part of it is eaten.  It is imperative that these two plants can be distinguished from each other! 

Both Queen Anne’s lace and poison hemlock belong to the carrot or Apiaceae family (formerly called Umbelliferae).  This plant family contains almost 4,000 species, including edible anise, caraway, carrot (of course), celery, cilantro/coriander (same plant), cumin, dill, fennel, parsley, and parsnip, as well as poisonous water hemlock.  Please note that there is also a native American wild carrot species (Daucus pusillus Michx.), but it does not grow in Pennsylvania (https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=DAPU3).

Poison hemlock is also listed as a noxious weed in Pennsylvania.  A noxious weed is a plant that can be “injurious to public health and livestock, … and cannot be sold, transported, planted, or otherwise propagated in Pennsylvania (https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/pda/plants-land-water/plant-industry/noxious-weeds-and-controlled-plants/controlled-plant-noxious-weed-lists.html).”  Queen Anne’s lace is not a noxious weed in Pennsylvania, but it is classified as noxious in at least 35 other states.   

Both Queen Anne’s lace and poison hemlock are beautiful, with mostly white, compound umbrella-shaped flowers, or umbels (See Photo 1).  Both species grow as biennial plants.  They form rosettes of compound, finely-divided, lacey leaves the first year.  In the second year, they bolt, or grow tall, flower-topped stems.  Once the flowers produce seeds, the plant dies.  Each plant is capable of producing thousands of seeds, and the seeds can still germinate, stay viable, for about five years.    

Is Queen Anne’s lace named for Queen Anne?  Yes, obviously, but which one?  According to the Winterthur Museum, this plant may have gotten its name from Queen Anne of Denmark, wife of King James Stuart, who was King of Scotland (1567-1625) and England (as James I, 1603-1625).  Queen Anne’s lace resembles the lace that was popular at that time.  

It is more likely, however, that the wild carrot got its nickname from Queen Anne II, younger daughter of King James II.  Queen Anne II ruled England from 1702-1714.  During the 1700’s, this flower was also referred to as ‘living lace’ by members of Queen Anne’s court.  Legend has it that, while Queen Anne II was making white lace, she pricked her finger with the tatting needle, spilling a drop of blood on the lace. This is  why these supposedly white flowers often (but not always) have a tiny dark red or purple floret near their center (https://www.winterthur.org/wp-content/uploads/Queen-Anne.pdf).  Biologists believe this dark flower may attract pollinating insects (See Photo 2).

Poison hemlock is one of the deadliest plants in North America.  People can be poisoned by eating any part of a hemlock plant.  They often confuse the hemlock root with wild parsnips, hemlock leaves with parsley, or hemlock seeds with anise seeds.  When its sap is ingested or inhaled, poison hemlock can cause severe damage to internal organs.  Be careful to wear a mask if you’re cutting these plants, and do not burn them! 

Years ago, I read about the ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates, and his death by hemlock.  I thought that this was the coniferous tree, eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), and was confused.  How could such a close relative of the pine tree be so deadly?  No, the eastern hemlock, also the state tree of Pennsylvania,  is not poisonous!  Tsuga canadensis is called hemlock because its crushed needles smell like poison hemlock.  It was POISON hemlock (C. maculatum) that was used for capital punishment by the ancient Greeks. 

How are Queen Anne’s lace and poison hemlock different?  According to Ohio State University (OSU), Queen Anne’s lace only reaches a height of about three feet.  Poison hemlock can be nearly 10 feet tall!  The hairy stems of Queen Anne’s lace are a solid-green color.  The stems of mature poison hemlock lack hairs, and are covered with purple spots.  Also, crushed leaves and roots of Queen Anne’s lace have a carrot-like odor, while poison hemlock has an unpleasant, rank, mouse-like odor.  Queen Anne’s lace has green bracts (modified leaves) under the flowers; poison hemlock flowers lack bracts (https://weedguide.cfaes.osu.edu/singlerecord.asp?id=21).  

As the compound flower of Queen Anne’s lace fades, it folds inward on itself, forming a ball that resembles a bird’s-nest.  It protects the seeds as they mature.  Much like a miniature tumbleweed, this structure can be blown by the wind and roll across the ground, dropping seeds as it moves.  The seeds have bristly hairs, and easily stick to clothing and animal fur, spreading  the seeds even more.  By contrast, the compound flowers of poison hemlock retain their umbrella shape, turning brown as the seeds mature.  The seeds eventually will just drop to the ground beneath the parent plant (See Photo 2).

I include a final word of caution when handling ANY member of the carrot family.  According to Michigan State University Extension, all species of Apiaceae contain chemicals that can increase sensitivity to ultraviolet light, causing blisters.  Some people can develop contact dermatitis from just touching the plants.  Wear gloves and protective clothing if you think you might be walking through carrot-related weeds, even Queen Anne’s lace (https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/poison-hemlock-identification-and-control).  

My cousin’s son grew up in Arizona, but spent many memorable summers here in Clinton County.  He was enthralled by the delicate, lacey appearance of Queen Anne’s lace.  He apparently didn’t see much of it back home in the desert, so it was a novelty for him.  It is a lovely flower.  If I weren’t so attached to the color purple, Queen Anne’s lace might also be my favorite flower.  

Kathryn Dorman has been a Penn State Extension certified Master Gardener of Clinton County since 2017.  She can be reached at clintonmg@psu.edu, or through the Clinton County Master Gardener Hotline at (570) 858-0198.