Belongs to: carrot family

Wild carrot Daucus carota

Also known as: Queen Anne's lace, bird's nest, bishop's lace


Best time to see: mid Jun to end Aug

Key facts

The wild relative of the cultivated carrot, growing 60 cm or more high in rough grassland, and especially near the sea

Heads of small white flowers are nearly flat while in bloom in summer, sometimes with a central red or purple patch

Afterwards the seed head curls inward to form a hollow cup of spiny fruits


© Owen Keen

© Tony Gunton