If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that in early June each year I like to pull off a country road to cut some Queen Anne’s Lace to bring home for an arrangement! I usually fill my trunk full of this lacy wildflower, or is it a weed? Good question!
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Queen Anne’s Lace, Daucus Carota, is also commonly called wild carrot, bird’s nest, and bishop’s lace. The name seems to be attributed to Queen Anne of Great Britain, lace (which was common at that time), and the tiny red flower in the center is thought to represent a droplet of blood where Queen Anne pricked herself with a needle when she was making the lace. I was interested to read that Queen Anne’s Lace was used as a companion plant to other crops. It provides shelter to nearby plants and attracts predatory insects that eat pests like caterpillars. In this case, it was referred to as a “beneficial weed”.
The common native Queen Anne’s Lace is quite invasive and not something you would want in your own flower garden. But, I did find a cultivar that is a distant relative called Ammi Majus. You can purchase seeds for Ammi Majus, which looks very similar to the wild variety, for your flower garden! It’s a little late for this year, but I definitely want to get some of these seeds for next year!
Queen Anne’s Lace Products for You and Your Home
For those of you who love Queen Anne’s Lace as much as I do, I found some pretty items for you and your home! You can use the links below to shop any of these items! My favorite is the necklace!!!
Fine Art Print by James Christensen
Wall Hanging by Primitives by Kathy
So, based on what I discovered, the common variety that I see along the side of the road, is indeed a weed! But, it’s pretty just the same! I will say that it really doesn’t smell pretty. That’s why I’m planning to purchase some Ammi Majus seeds for my flower garden next year! The arrangement shown above is simply two branches of wild Queen Anne’s Lace and some Solomon’s Seal branches from my own flower garden!
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I love Queen Anne’s Lace! We had some growing in our yard when I was a kid. I live in central Maryland, only about 30 minutes from where I grew up. My mom would let me pick some of the flowers and then she would put them in colored water. The white flowers would turn the color of the water. It was pretty cool. I still love it.
I did that too when I was little! Great memory! Thanks for sharing!
Weed or wildflower Queen Ann’s Iace is a beautiful addition to any vase of cut flowers or on it’s own.
Glad to know you enjoy it as well.
In the past I used to dehydrate Queen Anne’s lace by putting it in a drying sand and covering it with same in a gas oven with a pilot light. The results were astounding! Beautiful but delicate.
Wow – what a great idea! I bet it was beautiful!
Everything is considered a flower at our house. My kids bring me armfuls of queen annes lace, dandelions, daisies and any other flowering plant they can find in the fields. We never lack for bouquets! I love the way your arrangement looks with the green leaves, it makes it look so much fuller!
Yes!!! May your weeds be wildflowers!
I too, like Queen Ann’s Lace and my mother had an aunt who decorated the church with it for her wedding.
I think it would be amazing for a wedding – all in a big bunch! Every bit as pretty as baby’s breath, if not more so!
I love Queen Anne’s Lace. It can boldly stand on its on or is a lovely addition to a mixed bouquet. I live in the South and the heads on the flowers here are twice the size. Beautiful
This is all very interesting. I especially love the necklace.
While I have your attention, I would like to know if Mary and
Martha sells the songs apart from the message board. I was blessed to inherit an announcement board from our old church building, but no numbers came with it. I really love the songs from Mary and Martha. Thanks.
*Smiles*
Hi, Pamela. Unfortunately, the don’t. I wish they did!
I like both Queen Anne’s Lace and Cow Parsley.
We do not have Co Parsley in Delaware, but enjoy it in Aspring when we travel to the Lancaster area. Are you familiar with Cow Parsley?
See:
https://town-n-country-living.com/cow-parsley-obsession.html
Yes! Thanks for sharing!
I grow it in my garden. The trick is to throw out seeds in fall, and the trick to controlling it is when the flower fades,
and starts making a cup or ball to cut and discard. You may leave one to drop seeds for next year if you want more, but cut the rest off
What a great tip! Thank you!
Your post reminded me of one of my favorite songs by a friend of ours, written for a dear couple from the mountains of Colorado. Check it out, it is beautiful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I6zzZBa2_o
Hi Doreen, I’d love to see you link up at Talk of the Town. I miss seeing you at the party! It’s every Tuesday at 6 pm CST. at Knick of Time https://knickoftime.net/
Luv Queen Ann’s Lace – and I’ve been know to pull off to the side of the road to pick a bouquet! I’ve never planted it in my yard because I’ve heard it can be invasive.
Thanks for this post – pinning and following!
Have a lovely day.
It grows wild in Tennessee also. It was always called “chigger weed” and we never thought of it as flowers😊. Probably because while playing outside in weeds and grass, we often were bitten by the little bug known as chiggers. My mother would have never made bouquets with it though, as she would have thought the bugs would be on the flowers. It looks so pretty though, may have to try using it!
Hi, Judy. I live in Tennessee as well, and chigger weed is what we have always called it! It’s beautiful, but I have always been afraid to pick it!
Hi Doreen, please check out the ammi magus seeds as they’re suppose to be toxic to cats. I know you have a cat 🐈!!