Poison Hemlock vs Queen Anne's Lace
White umbrella flowers - carrot or killer?
The quick tell
Look at the stem. Poison Hemlock has a smooth, hairless stem splashed with purple blotches. Queen Anne’s Lace has a green, distinctly hairy stem - remember "the Queen has hairy legs." Size seals it: hemlock towers 6-10 feet; Queen Anne’s Lace rarely passes 4.
Field marks, side by side
| Poison Hemlock | Queen Anne's Lace | |
|---|---|---|
| Stem | Smooth, waxy, purple-blotched | Green and covered in fine hairs |
| Height | 6-10 ft at maturity | 2-4 ft |
| Flower center | No dark center | Usually a single tiny dark-red floret in the middle |
| Smell (do not taste) | Musty, unpleasant when crushed | Crushed leaves smell like carrot |
Still not sure which one you found?
Point Huck at it. One photo identifies it on the spot - and adds it to your collection.
Get Huck - freeCommon questions
What happens if you touch Poison Hemlock?
Skin contact is far less dangerous than ingestion - the deadly route is eating any part or getting sap in your mouth or eyes. Still, wear gloves: sap on hands finds its way to faces. Ingestion causes progressive paralysis and is a genuine emergency.
When do the two plants bloom?
They overlap. Hemlock typically flowers in late spring to early summer, Queen Anne’s Lace from midsummer into fall - but in June and July you can find both blooming on the same roadside, so identify by stem, not season.