On Queen Anne’s Lace
An online friend is having some fun with Queen Anne’s Lace using its royal perogative to grow where it isn’t wanted. Hmmm…roll through the mental rollodex and….
Queen Anne is nature study (pictures), as the butterflies prefer to lay their eggs leaves of plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae) including Queen Anne’s Lace, carrot, celery and dill.
Queen Anne’s Lace is wild carrot and so could be eaten. Well remember it is an ancestor so is very tough and strong. Strong could be an understatement there. Let’s just say that around here, it would wait until hard times before I started eating the root.
Queen Anne’s Lace is also jelly - for spreading on toast not the jello kind. Recipe below is from The World Carrot Museum which has a great description, history, and how to ID this plant. You wouldn’t want to accidentally eat hemlock would you?
That recipe (one of many I’m sure):
Queen Anne’s Lace Jelly
18 large Queen Anne’s lace heads
4 Cups water
1/4 Cup lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
1 Package powdered pectin
3 1/2 Cups + 2 Tbsp. sugarBring water to boil. Remove from heat. Add flower heads (push them down into the water). Cover and steep 30 mins. Strain. Measure 3 Cups liquid into 4-6 quart pan. Add lemon juice and pectin. Bring to a rolling boil stirring constantly. Add sugar and stir constantly. Cook and stir until mixture comes to a rolling boil. Boil one minute longer, then remove from heat.Add color (pink) if desired. Skim. Pour into jars leaving 1/4″ head space. Process in hot water bath for 5 mins.
Makes about 6 jars.
Another recipe said 6 half-pint jars and based on the 3 c. of water I’d say that is what this makes.
For those into natural health, Queen Anne’s Lace is a natural birth control. Interested? Follow the link. According to the information it works similar to the pill.
Lastly Queen Anne’s Lace could be paper. Found the link right under the jelly recipe and it led to Paper making From Plants. The page is not for beginners - the directions assume some prior knowledge - but the picture is of green paper & kinda cool.
There you are. Your weed isn’t laziness it is nature study waiting to happen. 
Additional Information: From Sister C.
I think Queen Anne’s lace is also listed by Oklahoma state university as being poisonous to horses. It is also a popular garden plant in England. Perhaps your online friend needs a bit more Brit in her flower beds?
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July 23rd, 2008 @ 11:45 pm
I think Queen Anne’s lace is also listed by Oklahoma state university as being poisonous to horses. It is also a popular garden plant in England. Perhaps your online friend needs a bit more Brit in her flower beds?