Beware Poison Hemlock, A Queen Anne’s Lace Look-Alike
This toxic plant looks almost identical to harmless Queen Anne’s Lace wildflowers.
Fact checked by Khara ScheppmannFact checked by Khara Scheppmann
Having wildflowers spontaneously spring up in your garden can be endearing at times. It's like nature wanted to support you in your green thumb endeavors by adding its own flourish to your yard—until you learn that some wildflowers are deadly.
Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is an invasive and toxic wildflower that grows throughout the United States, and although its flowers are strikingly like those of Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota), you do not want to add this wildflower to your arrangements. Poison hemlock and Queen Anne's lace are both part of the wild carrot and parsnip families, which is where they get their similar appearance. To avoid confusing the two look-alike plants, here's how to tell them apart.
Why Poison Hemlock Isn't Safe
According to the USDA, "All parts of poison hemlock (leaves, stem, fruit, and root) are poisonous," and the leaves are especially poisonous in the spring until the time that the plant flowers. It typically grows along fence lines and in moist places. Poisoning can occur because of its similarity to other plants. Its roots can be confused with wild parsnip, leaves with parsley, and seeds with anise. Confusing poison hemlock with Queen Anne's lace could mean bringing the wrong plant not only into your yard but also into your home.
It is toxic to pets and livestock, as well as humans. While animals typically avoid it, it can mistakenly make it into their food supply. When eaten, it affects the nervous system and symptoms of poisoning can occur quickly, including breathing difficulties and tremors.
What To Know About Queen Anne's Lace
While this wildflower is also toxic, contact with it will not cause problems for many people. Some will develop skin irritation or blistering from the sap, and ingesting large amounts of it can also cause discomfort. If you’re unsure about positively identifying the plant, play it safe and stay away from it.
How To Identify These Look-Alikes
Queen Anne's lace is safe to include in flower arrangements and isn't dangerous when ingested in small amounts. To avoid confusing it with poison hemlock, here are a few ways to differentiate between the two plants.
Stem Texture and Color
The stems of both poison hemlock and Queen Anne's lace are hollow, but poison hemlock will have small purple spots all over its smooth stem and triangular leaves. Queen Anne's lace has no purple spots on its stem, which is hairy.
Flower Shape
The umbel (the cluster of flowers) of Queen Anne's lace is flat-topped and sometimes there is a tiny, singular purple flower in the center of the lace.
The umbel of poison hemlock is more rounded and the flowers are not as tightly clustered together.
Leaf Texture and Color
The leaves on Queen Anne's lace will have hair on them like the stem, while the leaves of poison hemlock will not.
These three main differences between the two plants should help in identifying which wildflowers you can safely bring into your home, and which you should avoid. A final distinguishing feature of Queen Anne's lace is the pronged bracts, which look like skinny leaves, that are located at the base of the flowers and the umbel.
How To Stay Safe
If you want to catch poison hemlock early and rid small patches from your backyard, you can remove the plants before they begin to bud. Wear protective clothing and gloves to pull seedlings from the ground when moist for easy removal. Mowing this plant repeatedly can help to weaken it, but be careful as you run the risk of breathing in particles, and the plant will grow back. Use a broadleaf selective herbicide on young poison hemlock plants. Seeds remain in the ground for some time, and removal may take several seasons. Call a professional for large infestations.
If you are unsure of whether the plant is Queen Anne's lace or poison hemlock, be safe and don't touch it. Contact your local extension office to let an expert identify it for you.
How To Identify Other Look-Alikes
There are other plants that resemble Queen Anne's lace and poison hemlock with distinct features that help identify them. Here are some native and non-native species to know:
Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea) is a native plant with purple stems similar to poison hemlock, but its leaves are toothed and not lacy.
Common elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a native plant with woody stems that do not have purple spots. Its white flowers are larger than those of a poison hemlock.
Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a toxic invasive plant that may have purple-splotched stems like poison hemlock, but its leaves are not lacy. It grows double the height of poison hemlock, reaching up to 15 feet high. It can cause painful blistering and burns.
Water hemlock (Cicuta maculata) stems have purple spots like poison hemlock, but the leaves are not lacy. This native plant is also highly toxic.
Next time you discover a new wildflower in your yard, make sure that it's a friendly wildflower and not a foe to you and your garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What other plants resemble Queen Anne's lace?
Several plants in the Apiaceae or Umbelliferae family resemble Queen Anne's lace and are poisonous. These plants include cow parsnip and wild parsnip. There are many other look-alikes that are not toxic, such as yarrow and common ragweed.
Where does Queen Anne's lace grow?
Queen Anne's lace is native to Europe and Eastern Asia. This species spread to North America and now coexists with native species. Queen Anne's lace is considered an invasive and noxious weed.
Should I pull Queen Anne's lace?
This plant is invasive and competes with other plants, and pulling and mowing are good ways to control it. Do so in mid to late summer before it flowers and sets seeds. Bees and butterflies are attracted to it, so consider replacing it with another pollinator-friendly plant.
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