Carrot
Daucus carota
Last reviewed: August 2026
Carrot (Daucus carota) is a biennial forb. It blooms in June, July, and August. The flowers draw bees, beetles, and flies.
Carrot (Daucus carota) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–36" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Pollinators
bees, beetles, flies
Native alternatives to Carrot
Carrot is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaWild carrot is a biennial herb that produces delicate white flower clusters resembling Queen Anne's lace during summer months. This native plant grows 1-3 feet tall with feathery foliage and thrives in full sun with moderate water needs.
Growing Carrot
Grow Carrot in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Carrot takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Often considered a weed by conventional standards
- Can self-seed aggressively
- Dies back completely in winter leaving bare spots
Wildlife value
The white umbel flowers attract a diverse array of pollinators including native bees, beneficial beetles, and flies. Seeds provide food for birds while the foliage can host butterfly larvae.
Common questions
- When does Daucus carota bloom?
- Daucus carota blooms from June through August, producing distinctive flat-topped clusters of small white flowers.
- What pollinators visit Daucus carota?
- Daucus carota attracts a variety of pollinators including bees, beetles, and flies to its umbrella-shaped flower clusters.
- What growing conditions does Daucus carota prefer?
- This native plant grows best in full sun with medium water requirements, though it can tolerate some shade and drier conditions once established.
- Is Carrot toxic to dogs?
- Carrot is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
- Is Carrot toxic to cats?
- Carrot is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
- Is Carrot HOA-friendly?
- Carrot takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Carrot? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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