Wild carrot does, indeed, smell of carrots, but the roots are not like our cultivated, dinnertime favourite. Look for this umbellifer on chalk grasslands and coasts.
Wild carrot is a widespread perennial plant of grasslands, particularly those on chalk soils, and coastlines. In bud, the dense umbels (umbrella-like) of flowers look reddish, but they soon bloom into white flowers. These flowers can be seen from June to September, eventually turning into concave, bird's-nest-like seed heads.
How to identify
The white umbels of Wild carrot are very densely packed and rounded. Its leaves are divided into narrow leaflets, and the plant is hairy.
Distribution
Found throughout the UK, but scarcer in Scotland.
Did you know?
The leaves and roots of Wild carrot do, indeed, smell of carrots, but the roots don't resemble the big, orange vegetables we have at the table and cultivate in the garden.
