Queen Anne's Lace
Victorian Garden Favorite!
Her Majesty, Queen Anne of England (see her tiny palm melon) loved crocheting fine lace as a way to relax after a long day of ruling from the throne. During one session, Anne pricked her finger causing a single drop of blood to spill onto the center of the lace, which then radiated outwards in a magnificent hue of lavender-pink.
Daucus carota with its intricate clustered flower head is named after Anne's lace, as it too begins white, and then radiates a beautiful hue from its center to mid-flower. This unique (and temporary) appearance of color is Mother Nature's way of attracting pollinating bees. Interestingly, following the pollination, the lace flower will then return to its original state of brilliant white.
But hold on, the show isn't over! Once pollinated, the entire white bouquet begins to flatten out its rounded top as it folds upwards and into itself like an umbrella caught in the wind. The reason for this inversion is to cocoon the newly pollinated seeds in what can only be seen as a fascinating birds-nest which then turns into an otherworldly looking pod!
After the pod has dried, Queen Anne's Lace will disperse its seeds on the wind, which in some areas can become invasive. Therefore, to keep this a contained cottage garden bloom, plant in small groupings and remove seed pods before they dry.
One final historical note: approx. 400 BC, Hippocrates recommended Daucus carota seeds as a form of birth control. Modern research has confirmed these seeds do contain a pregnancy inhibitor, which has shown promise on mice, but without further study one should not trust this system!
ZONES: 3-9
Direct Sow: Fall
Full Sun
Daucus carota with its intricate clustered flower head is named after Anne's lace, as it too begins white, and then radiates a beautiful hue from its center to mid-flower. This unique (and temporary) appearance of color is Mother Nature's way of attracting pollinating bees. Interestingly, following the pollination, the lace flower will then return to its original state of brilliant white.
But hold on, the show isn't over! Once pollinated, the entire white bouquet begins to flatten out its rounded top as it folds upwards and into itself like an umbrella caught in the wind. The reason for this inversion is to cocoon the newly pollinated seeds in what can only be seen as a fascinating birds-nest which then turns into an otherworldly looking pod!
After the pod has dried, Queen Anne's Lace will disperse its seeds on the wind, which in some areas can become invasive. Therefore, to keep this a contained cottage garden bloom, plant in small groupings and remove seed pods before they dry.
One final historical note: approx. 400 BC, Hippocrates recommended Daucus carota seeds as a form of birth control. Modern research has confirmed these seeds do contain a pregnancy inhibitor, which has shown promise on mice, but without further study one should not trust this system!
ZONES: 3-9
Direct Sow: Fall
Full Sun
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