Wild carrot

Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

Daucus carota

Common introduced weed · not on state Lists A/B/C. C-floristic-2020 CO-rules-2025

Do not confuse it with highly poisonous hemlocks. Exposure help.

Identification caveat: Wild carrot, poison hemlock and water hemlocks require careful separation. A dark floret, a smell or a photograph by itself is insufficient. This profile does not authorize eating wild roots.

Still researching this plant

This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for Dogs & cats, Other animals. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.

Three views of this plant

Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.

Daucus carota: A white compound umbel with a dark central flower and radiating flower clusters; the source identifies Daucus carota carota. — **flowering umbel** — A white compound umbel with a dark central flower and radiating flower clusters; the source identifies Daucus carota carota.
zebedeugalinha · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference, not an independent specimen-based taxonomic determination. Photo 11-01 is source-identified Daucus carota carota; the other sources use Daucus carota. Exact names are preserved. Similar white-flowered umbellifers require a full key; a dark central flower alone is not sufficient.
iNaturalist large server-resized photo; no local crop, colour change or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.

Daucus carota: A finely divided compound leaf with narrow pointed segments on a visibly hairy stalk. — **leaf** — A finely divided compound leaf with narrow pointed segments on a visibly hairy stalk.
Eleftherios Katsillis · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference, not an independent specimen-based taxonomic determination. Photo 11-01 is source-identified Daucus carota carota; the other sources use Daucus carota. Exact names are preserved. Similar white-flowered umbellifers require a full key; a dark central flower alone is not sufficient.
iNaturalist large server-resized photo; no local crop, colour change or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.

Daucus carota: An upright branching flowering plant with white umbels growing among grasses. — **habit** — An upright branching flowering plant with white umbels growing among grasses.
Eleftherios Katsillis · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference, not an independent specimen-based taxonomic determination. Photo 11-01 is source-identified Daucus carota carota; the other sources use Daucus carota. Exact names are preserved. Similar white-flowered umbellifers require a full key; a dark central flower alone is not sufficient.
iNaturalist large server-resized photo; no local crop, colour change or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; catalog preview may use a CSS crop.

Identification

A biennial with finely divided leaves, bristly stems and white flower umbels. These clues alone are not a safe identification key. N-daucus-carota

People

Sap may cause dermatitis, including reactions in light. Do not taste an unidentified carrot-family plant; this guide is not a foraging identification service. N-daucus-carota

Evidence scope: Species contact hazard; identification precaution.

Dogs & cats

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for dogs or cats. Missing evidence does not establish safety.

Other animals

The reviewed sources do not establish species-specific ingestion effects or a safe exposure amount for livestock. Missing evidence does not establish safety.

Plants & habitat

An introduced roadside and field plant, it can spread aggressively by seed. A deep taproot can complicate pulling established plants. N-daucus-carota

Management & timing

Confirm identity before handling. Prevent reseeding in unwanted patches while avoiding sap contact. N-daucus-carota

Evidence scope: Management inference from reproduction and sap hazard.

Before taking action

Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27

References

C-floristic-2020 — Colorado Floristic Quality Assessment: 2020 Update, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University. Accessed 2026-09-07T02:27:33+00:00. Locator: Appendix B, Colorado species list: scientific name and native/non-native fields.
CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
N-daucus-carota — Daucus carota, NC State Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T02:23:13+00:00. Locator: Description, identification attributes and plant problems; toxicity section where present.
S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.

Content revised 2026-09-07 02:46:00Z · Source checks dated separately in the references.