Wild Carrot
Daucus carota
Washington State Classification
Class C — Widespread, County-Selected Control
It out competes native grasses for resources.
Quick Reference
Identification
Growth Habit
It is an upright, taprooted herb, reaching 1 to 4 feet tall. It may occur as an annual or short-lived perennial. The species is often a biennial that bears a rosette of leaves its first season. The entire plant is covered with coarse, stiff hairs.
Leaves
Leaves are fern-like with small toothed leaflets. The segments are linear or lance shaped.
Flowers
Flowers are small, white and borne in compound flat-topped umbels. The umbels are 2 to 4 inches in diameter. They have purple or pinkish flowers in the center.
Fruit & Seeds
no info provided
Impact
It out competes native grasses for resources. It can taint milk if dairy cows ingest large amounts. It may be mildly toxic to livestock. Wild carrot may cause poor seed production with commercial varieties through hybridization. Wild carrot (except where commercially grown) was changed from a Class B to a Class C noxious weed in 2013.
Ecology & Spread
Habitat
Wild carrot is found in meadows, pastures, roadsides, and waste places. Please click here to see a county level distribution map of wild carrot in Washington.
Spread Mechanisms
Reproduction
Wild carrot reproduces by seed. Estimates of seed production vary from 1,000 to 40,000 seeds per plant.
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Control Methods
Mechanical
- Hand-pulling or mowing, during the first year when the plants are 7 - 10 inches tall, can be effective.
Cultural / Prevention
- Hand-pulling or mowing, during the first year when the plants are 7 – 10 inches tall, can be effective. Establishing and maintaining healthy stands of native, desirable vegetation can reduce wild carrot infestations. Since wild carrot and commercial carrot are the same species, classical biological control is not a viable option.
Biological Control
- Since wild carrot and commercial carrot are the same species, classical biological control is not a viable option.