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Daucus carota

Common name: Carrot · Wild carrot · Queen Anne's lace

Daucus carota is a biennial in the carrot family (Apiaceae), grown for its swollen, edible taproot. The wild form, known as Queen Anne's lace, is native to Europe and southwestern Asia and has a thin, woody white root. Cultivated carrots were first domesticated in Central Asia and were originally purple or yellow, not orange.

Fun facts

  • Orange carrots are a relatively recent invention, popularized by Dutch growers in the 17th century.
  • The idea that carrots give you night vision was British wartime propaganda meant to hide radar technology.
  • Carrots left in the ground over winter produce a flat-topped flower umbel — Queen Anne's lace — in their second year.
  • The orange color comes from beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A.

Care summary

Sun Full sun to light shade
Water Consistent moisture, especially during germination
Soil Deep, loose, stone-free sandy loam, pH 6.0–6.8
Hardiness Zones 3–10 as a biennial grown annually
Mature height Roots to 30 cm (12 in); foliage 30–60 cm (1–2 ft)
Pet safe Non-toxic; roots and tops safe for pets
Difficulty Easy
Propagation Grown only from seed, sown directly in the ground, since the taproot makes transplanting unsuccessful. Sow 1 cm deep in loose, stone-free soil, keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination (1-3 weeks), and thin seedlings to 5-8 cm apart.

Make your own Carrot · Wild carrot · Queen Anne's lace profile

Common problems

    • Cover beds with fine insect mesh
    • Sow thinly to avoid thinning seedlings
    • Delay sowing until early summer
    • Grow in loose, stone-free soil
    • Work in sharp sand before sowing
    • Avoid fresh manure before planting
    • Water deeply and consistently in drought
    • Mulch to keep soil evenly moist
    • Choose bolt-resistant varieties