Note from the Author: This is an update on a weed I previously covered on June 9th 2022.
This is the wild carrot found somewhere in Fayetteville NC. These biennials are just starting to emerge right now. 
This Carrot is the Domesticated one, it is a Chantenay Red-cored carrot that I planted last year in my garden.
Common Name: Queen Anne’s Lace
Other Common Names: Bird’s Nest, Bishop’s Lace, Wild Carrot, Bee's Nest Plant, Devil's Plague (wtf on that last one).
Botanical Family: Apicaeae (The Carrot Family)
Botanical Latin Name: Daucus carota
Description & Habitat: Queen Anne’s Lace is a non-native biennial with a fleshy taproot and is effectively a undomesticated carrot. In the first year this wild plant will develop a rosette of finely divided leaves and in the second year it will develop a flower stalk that produces a cluster of white flowers that will often have a dark red or purple flower in the center. Typically you will find Wild carrots in lawns, pastures, abandoned lots, yards and other wild places with soil that has good drainage and are typically sunny. Every part of this plant is edible thought he root may be white or yellow and color and far smaller than the carrots you buy at the store.
There are a few interesting things I found while re-researching this wild plant for this posting. Firstly, the family name for the Carrot family changed from Umbrelliferae in or around 2011 to Apiaceae which means older publications will still be using the old name in 2025. My copy of Weeds of Southern Turfgrasses and my copy of Rodales: Herbs still uses this family name so keep that in mind when looking into this wild plant. Beyond this how many older publications treat an undomesticated carrot as if it is a dangerous weed when it really isn’t. Even the NC state extension site (see link below) treats it as if it’s dangerous. Then there is the discussion of the root colors; I already noted that wild carrots are probably going to be white or yellow. But did you know the orange colored carrots at the store were naturally hybridized in the 1500’s most likely in Spain? We know this because there is there are paintings from Spain in the 1500’s depicting orange carrots and genetic studies indicate that the orange color naturally appeared as opposed to being intentionally hybridized. Before the orange color came around it is noted that the first definite writings of and depictions of carrots as a root vegetable originate in what is modern day Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, and those carrots were white, yellow purple and a shade of purple so dark, that it is effectively black. The reason you do not see more purple and black colored carrots in the seed trade is because they have a much lower germination rate than more hybridized types. Baker’s Creek Seeds sells the darkest purple types I’ve ever seen.
When & What to Harvest: The leaves, flowers and unripe seed pods are all safely edible. Ideally you want to start harvesting these during January or February before seeds are fully formed.
Edible Related Plants: Cumin (Cuminum cyminum), Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum), Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa), Celery (Apium graveolens), Anise (Pimpinella anisum), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Dill (Anethum graveolens), Lovage (Levisticum officinale), Angelica (Angelica archangelica), Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium).
Similar Dangerous Species: Poisonous Hemlock (Conium maculatum) which is in the same family. You can tell Poison hemlock from Wild Carrots with some pretty easy to identify physical features. Poison Hemlock is a biennial that has stems with purple splotches that can be anywhere from two to ten feet tall. Poison hemlock’s leaves are divided and compound and taper to a point, also, the bruised or crushed foliage of hemlock smell bad whereas carrots smell like carrots.
Recipe:
Parsnip & Carrot Greens Pie
Ingredients:
6-8 Parsnips
3-4 Medium Carrots (For the Greens)
1-4 Tablespoons of butter
Tahini to taste (Make sure it has enough lemon in it)
1-2 frozen plain pie shells (Or if you make your own, 1 deep dish one)
Salted Sunflower seeds or Slivered Almonds.
Instructions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Wash your carrot greens thoroughly to remove debris and dirt/grit.
3. Cut up your parsnips as finely as is possible
4. Steam your parsnips until they are soft. (10-15 mins)
5. Chop up your carrot greens as finely as is possible. (You can use a food processor to render them into paste also)
6. Mix your carrot greens with the tahini and use to coat the inside of the pie shells. Save about half for the next step.
7. Mash your steamed parsnips and mix in the remaining Tahini-carrot blend.
8. Fill pies with mixture.
9. Decorate top of pies with the Almonds or Sunflower seeds.
10. Bake for about 20 minutes or until you see the pies turning golden brown.
This recipe was originally published in the Fedco Seeds and Supplies Catalog for 2025 on page 55. I’ve tried this recipe a few different ways and the above is my preferred modification to it. For note I made my own tahini for it but you can buy that from the international aisle at a lot of grocery stores.
Additional Information: (If applicable)
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/daucus-carota/
Where to get seed or Bare Root Plants:
(Black Carrot Seeds)
https://www.rareseeds.com/carrot-pusa-asita-black
(Wild Carrot Seeds)
With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog. In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.
For those of you wondering what plants are going to be at the market this weekend here is the list.
Fresh Foods:
Soup Kit – Parsnip
Soup Kit – Turnip
Turnips
Parsnips
Onions
Celery
Potatoes
Garlic Bulbs
Soil Amendment Products:
Carolina Gold, Live Mushroom Compost – 18 Gallon Tote*
Carolina Gold, Live Mushroom Compost – 3 Gallon Bag
Carolina Gold, Live Mushroom Compost – 1 Gallon Bag
Carolina Gold, Enhanced Potting Soil – 1 Gallon Bag
Houseplants:
Abutilon
Aloe, American
Begonia, Sindbad
Cuban Oregano, Large Leaf
Hoan Ngoc
Pothos, Cebu Blue
Rose Campion
Selaginella
Solanum uleanum
Sorrel, Raspberry Dressing
Swiss Cheese Plant
*The 18 gallon tote is by special order only and is delivered to any address within the Fayetteville city area.
How to stay in Contact with Us!
All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.
Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville
Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:
The Videos: Look Here
>Newest videos (1): Winter 2025
Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is March 1st at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.
