Poison hemlock
Toxic · do not eatPoison hemlock has smooth, purple-blotched, hollow stems and a musty smell; deadly.
Extra care needed
Wild carrot.
Daucus carota
Also found as Queen Anne's lace
The wild ancestor of the carrot, with lacy white umbels, often a single dark central floret, and hairy stems.
Sources checked 27 September 2026 · Specialist field review pending
Before any gathering or use
Deadly poison hemlock and water hemlock are close lookalikes. Hairy stems and carrot smell help but do not replace an expert check.
Where it grows
Tracked records and known growing zone
- Verified records
- 124,669
- People who recorded it
- 55,250
- Most records (northern hemisphere)
- Jun–Aug
- Records span
- 1969–2026
| January | 1306 |
|---|---|
| February | 1186 |
| March | 1834 |
| April | 5619 |
| May | 6843 |
| June | 14139 |
| July | 42169 |
| August | 26763 |
| September | 12581 |
| October | 5799 |
| November | 2581 |
| December | 1302 |
Research-grade iNaturalist records, snapshot Aug 27, 2026. The growing zone combines areas where different people have repeatedly verified it. Records show where people looked and found it, not current abundance or permission to gather.
01 / Learn to see
Field marks
- 01
Hairy, solid stems without purple blotches.
- 02
Finely divided, feathery leaves smelling of carrot.
- 03
Flat white umbels, often with a dark red floret in the center, curling into a bird's nest when in seed.
These are study prompts, not a complete identification key. Confirm the full plant with a regional flora and an experienced local identifier.
02 / Resolve the differences
Look closely. Compare.
Fool's parsley
Aethusa cynapium has long drooping bracts under each small umbel; toxic.
Use the botanical sourceGiant hogweed
Toxic · do not eatGiant hogweed is far larger and its sap burns skin.
Selected comparisons only. Other lookalikes may occur locally.
03 / Meet the place
Habitat & season
Range context
Native to Europe and southwest Asia; naturalized widely.
Watch the plant stage
Roots of first-year rosettes in autumn or early spring.
Stage guidance is not a local forecast. Check your climate, elevation and a regional source; no month-shift formula is used here.
04 / Gather with care
Documented use & care
Parts discussed: Root · Seed
Only experts should collect it. First-year roots are woody and cooked.
Care for the patch
Leave seed heads for insects.
Preparation & storage essentials05 / Follow the evidence
Sources & review
- Wikipedia · Daucus carotaBotanical description, range and documented use
- iNaturalist · Daucus carotaTaxonomy and verified observation records
Checked 27 September 2026. Original editorial synthesis; source institutions have not reviewed or endorsed this guide. Independent botanical field review is pending. Photos illustrate specimens; they do not certify the identity of a plant you find.
Suggest a correction