06/01/2026
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=954849800880809&id=100090673943205
Two tall white wildflowers grow in the same roadside ditches and field edges. From ten feet away they look identical. One is harmless. One is seriously toxic.
Queen Anne's lace — the wild ancestor of the carrot. Poison hemlock — toxic in every part of the plant.
🌿 Three differences, three seconds:
- The stem — Queen Anne's lace has a hairy green stem. Poison hemlock has a smooth stem with purple blotches. Purple spots on the stem is the primary field mark.
- The smell — crush a Queen Anne's lace leaf and it smells like carrot. Poison hemlock smells musty and unpleasant. Wash hands after handling.
- The flower — Queen Anne's lace often has a single dark purple floret in the center of the white cluster. Poison hemlock doesn't.
🐾 Poison hemlock is spreading across the eastern US and can grow several feet tall. If you find it on your property, don't pull it with bare hands — wear gloves and bag the plant. Contact your county extension office for large stands.
Check the stem first. Purple blotches, smooth surface — leave it alone 🌿
