Queen Anne’s Lace – Garden or Not?

21 Comments

1. I think it's beautiful, but then again I'm the person who loves dandelions too, so I may not be the best one to offer advice! 🙂

   I'd say keep it if you just wanted to rip them out for no good reason BUT if it's to put in a garden, that's a good cause as far as I'm concerned.

2. Very pretty. What if you kept a border of it and carved out 90% for a real garden? Very cottagey I think.

3. I think the word garden implies cultivation. I am an admirer of Queen Ann's Lace and use the woody roots to flavor soups and stews when camping. After all. it is the wild ancestor of our carrot. However, because of its resemblance to Poison Hemlock which often hides among stands of Queen Ann's Lace, that practice cannot be generally recommended. I vote to dig it up and plant carrots and elephant garlic. Carrots have almost identical flowers and those big garlic flowers look great amongst them.

   Either way, have fun.

4. The definition of a weed is an unwanted plant. Ergo, even dandelions are not weeds if you want them. I say, accept the QAL as a gift from Mother Nature, call it a garden or not, and enjoy. I'm always thrilled when “hitch hikers” pop up in the places I'm try (with various degrees of success)to cultivate.

5. I think it is beautiful and a great host for beneficial insects. If it's the only other garden space you have though then that's a tough decision.

6. Beautiful, natural, beneficial bug magnet. As long as you can spare the space, why not keep it?

7. A field is not a garden, but it may be part of a landscape. Queen Anne's Lace isn't a noxious weed, so if you like the look, keep it.

8. If it makes you happy, keep it. I'm always thrilled when QAL springs up in my gardens — such a pretty plant, and great for attracting beneficials, too.

9. Beautiful Shawna. Low maintenance, attracts all sorts of insects, fragrant, use in flower arrangements.

   Keep it unless you have another more useful and beautiful idea.

   Shirley Bovshow
   Garden World Report

10. It is God's garden. wlid flowers are the best.

11. I loved QAL and used to collect it as a kid. Of course, that freaked out my gramma who called it 'chigger weed'. Not sure if chiggers really prefer it or not, or if that was an old wive's tale.

12. My grandma used to cut the QAL and put it in red or blue colored water – we'd watch it change colors and discuss science. Will never forget it. 🙂

    Shawna

13. What a cool idea to colour the QAL. That must have been fun.

    I love QAL, think it's beautiful. It has a gardeny look when it's a single grouping like this.

    I love it next to blue chicory, which also seems to grow near it.

    I have wild viper's bugloss which I let colonize here and there in my garden. Free, wild and beautiful.

    Now I'm craving summer.

14. It's beautiful – one of my favorite wildflowers. I wouldn't mind if some QAL decided to self-sow in my garden. Being the plant collector I am, I'd be tempted to pull some of it to make space for a variety of natives.

15. I love it… I think it is gorgeous!
    Your blog always inspires – thanks for a glimpse of summer. Queens Ann is what Summer is to me in the wild meadows out here in the garden!

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17. Hi Shawna

    I did that with my boys this spring; they had a great time with it and learned a lot. Definitely a project I recommend!

    As for the QAL – vote is: Keep it!

18. I think it's pretty…I would keep it! It's attractive in it's own right. I wish I had an area that could have the natural, wild look. I live in a suburban neighborhood with a homeowners association and am not sure I could get away with it here, but I would if I could.

19. To Jan,

    You might try growing some carrots around the house. For all practical purposes the flowers look the same plus you get carrots.

    Best Wishes

    MikeGras

20. Thanks for the good ideas!

    Shawna

21. Sadly, the state of IL considers it an invasive weed which makes it illegal to grow even in a garden in my city.