Yarrow, poison hemlock and Queen Anne's lace - a close look at the difference's

[@jeffreyyenior9757]

Hemlock and Queen Anne's Lace are both in the carrot family, Yarrow is not. It is in the Aster Family (Asteraceae). Still a good video in that you show the differences quite well. One thing that you might want to keep in mind is that all of those plants start off small, so size is not always a good indicator. A young 6" poison hemlock that also lacks much of the purple coloration, will still drop you deader than a door nail. That's why it is important to know all Identifiers: Leaf patterns, coloration, texture, size, odors and environment are all plant identifiers. Queen Anne's Lace smell identically to carrots, Yarrow has an odor of it's own and is easy to remember once you smell it. Get some Yarrow Tea and smell it. Hemlock is a different odor all together. They can all be found in the same environment and smaller plants can be confused with out knowing precisely what the leaf patterns are.

[@phyllisroberts6944]

Jeffrey Yenior sir, can you describe the smells?

[@aman4peace]

I know Yarrow all my life grows on lawns and cow pastures. it has an oily smell you know the flower heads are different. you will know by smelling yarrow has a different smell to it. I try to use it as a teen to smoke once a while caught the herb in a school library in grammar school. I started to study off and on this because it is around me where I live in Quebec where I grew up in Maine.

[@dubthedirector]

Good information

[@FigaroHey]

@@aman4peace Clearly the smoking affected your communication skills.

[@donnariggs1567]

@@aman4peace from one mainiac to another cheers

[@feralbluee]

Queen Anne’s Lace looks like one flower like a shallow bowl - the others have a bunch of separate flowers growing out of one stem. easy to identify. :) thanks so much for the identification of the other two - glad i didn’t pick those as a kid!!! the only trouble with Queen Anne’s Lace, is that it closes up pretty quickly when you pick it. it was one of my favorite wild flowers along with daises and camomile (those tiny daises) 🌿🌼🌱 have a great day and keep safe 🌷🌿🌼🌱🌷

[@davidyanceyjr]

One of the better videos on identifying Yarrow, Queen Anns Lace, and Hemlock. Quality is fantastic and in focus close-ups which are a must if you to educate viewers. I hate these type videos where you cannot clearly see the difference in the plants which is of utmost importance.

[@4directionsbushcraft]

Thank you very much for you kind words. I agree and try my best to make my videos simple and easy to watch, especially with wild plants and edibles.

[@alfred1925]

Good video. I think the 3 pronged spikes are called bracts. And I believe the Hemlock has small single pronged ones. Another identifier is that Hemlock leaves smell like the bottom of a hamster's cage.

[@KnittingsAndSewings]

I gather Queen Anne's Lace for natural dyeing of fiber and yarn. This video is the best at informing between the differences of QAL and hemlock. Thanks. Great job!

[@anniemaymcneely2013]

great video , thanks for the clear , simple explanations, and the lack of distracting music

[@trenchantsometimes5149]

If you cut a few flower stems from Queen Anne's lace and put them in a vase with water and a few drops of food coloring they will take up the color and the 'lace' will become that color. Of course, the more food color added to the water, the stronger the color of the flower will be.

[@Smedley60]

This was the best comparison that I've seen so far. Thank you. I'll be looking through the yard tomorrow.

[@rachelsmall8812]

Excellent video! This really helped me identify these three plants clearly. Many thanks!

[@4directionsbushcraft]

Fantastic I'm glad you liked it and it was able to help. Thank you for watching.

[@phillipmerritt1428]

I really appreciate the detail comparison between the three plants and you went into a lot of stuff and you were very patient for new bit newbies. I've had an interest in flowers and plants for a long time now I have the time to look into it. I'm going to keep up with your blogs. and tell everybody I know about him. thanks 💀💀💀👍

[@4directionsbushcraft]

+phillip merritt thank you I really appreciate that. We try to make all our videos like that.

[@BacktonaturelivingCom]

Great Video! Thank you for the great identification differences. We love eating edible wild foods on our mountain homestead, but we definitely want to be safe...

[@4directionsbushcraft]

Thank you I appreciate that. I'm glad this helped.

[@peggysue50]

I have been wanting to learn how to identify edible plants and also learn about noxious plant dangers ... I agree with comments about your very helpful videos - good work!

[@hoosierpioneer]

Your video reassured me that 2 of my chickens that died last week did not have access to poison hemlock, only to yarrow.

[@patriciastultz2190]

Thank you for that. I just found a bunch of Yarrow in a lot that I am now sure of.

[@diniathome7930]

The Yarrow shown is still in bud and opens nicely into a lovely umbrella shape made up of tiny white flowers.

[@4directionsbushcraft]

+Dini athome your correct thank you

[@diniathome7930]

Enjoyed you video, thanks for posting. Yarrow from the garden centers come in yellow and pink too. Some say Yarrow is a member of the Daisy, others Sunflower, and still others say Aster, regardless, a nice addition to any garden setting.

[@luciemarie5837]

Great video, we feel confident now being able to identify poison hemlock.

[@jessdave3107]

Thank you, I saw some plants in my pasteur and thought it was hemlock. I now know it is yarrow. Great job!

[@jefflebowski918]

Thank you for the video, I had some young "weeds" growing in my backyard and they turned out to be hemlock after watching your video. I hope you washed your hands after touching the hemlock.

[@robertwilson5615]

It's easy to spot the differences in the 2nd year of growth. I wish you'd show the 1 yr plants. No flower makes it tough to tell the differences.

[@moncoeurpourvous]

thank you!!! my sister and I see queen anne's lace all over the place down in NJ (they're literally all over the place, and I've never seen that before!) we had picked a lot of them to make "flower crowns" but then I heard poison hemlock looks very similar to queen anne's and got so worried!

[@aman4peace]

@Shrin Ajay, sometimes it is not easy to know the flower if you're not familiar with it. remember the heads are separate where the heads of wild carrot are together. and a say Queens Anns Lace has hairy legs I just got from e KZbin VIDEO I have a plant growing and have a health group on skype on herbs so they used a link and I got on KZbin on to search of wild carrot that one plant grows on the side of my house wondering too which to know. so knowing you know the difference ur okay and you still live from picking the right plant

[@sjoshmm99]

Thanks for the video! Yarrow is actually of the Daisy family (Compositae; Asteraceae), not carrot family. might be handy to know for people who quickly want to flick through their field guide to confirm ID.

[@4directionsbushcraft]

Thank you. I'll have to update that.

[@garybrinker4522]

Didn't think Daisys are a herb like Yarrow ?

[@mrs.schmenkman]

Thank you for such a simple, concise and clear video! Great job!

[@4directionsbushcraft]

Your very welcome! I'm glad I could help and thank you very much for watching!

[@chanceweslowski7792]

Thank you very much. I feel a lot more comfortable with these plants now.

[@susanculberson1104]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am new to gardening and trying herbal remedies. This was an amazingly helpful video!

[@mikevi33023]

excellent video, isn't it dangerous to touch poison hemlock ? you touched it here

[@jesicaloader7214]

That's what I was thinking! I almost stopped breathing when I watched him touching it!

[@SunnerSees]

Thank you. This makes me feel much more comfortable foraging for yarrow around the neighborhood. Thank you for being so clear and to the point.

[@tea4tamara]

Thank you, this video helped me a lot. I've been trying to figure out what's all over my backyard - I'm far more certain that it's Queen Anne's Lace now. :)

[@4directionsbushcraft]

Your welcome and I'm glad it helped. It more than likely is? In my experience Queen Anne's lace or will carrot grows a little more prevalent especially in my area. The hemlock only seems to grow in a few areas and like a lot of sun also. A friend once told to remember this, "the queen has hairy legs."

[@alfred1925]

@@4directionsbushcraft Have you noticed a nasty smell from Hemlock?

[@4directionsbushcraft]

Your very welcome and thank you that is really nice to hear. Yeah keep your eye out because it could hurt your animals also if you have any.

[@4directionsbushcraft]

Fantastic Lucie I'm really glad my video helped you. Thanks for watching.

[@timbryant2259]

Wow! thank u! I just was introduced to poison hemlock but from a distance. Also, I did not know the purple spot takes some time to appear.

[@Aw-ns1qx]

Not mentioned here but often grouped in eith these is wild parsley which has an eddible root, but the stalk and stems can give you quite a rash especially after exposed to sunshine.

[@ppetal1]

Am I right in saying that hemlock has a groove down the stems? Thanks for the vid. I'm almost confident enough to eat a wild carrot.

[@ingram1225]

I have poison hemlock thanks to previous home owners that planted it along the house. Now it is taking over my backyard. How do I get rid of it? Also, before this, I have touched them many times, pulling them out of the ground with no ill effects. I am guessing it is only poisonous if you eat it? Thanks for the feedback and the excellent video. Location, Washington state.

[@4directionsbushcraft]

Just wash hands really well because yes it is only poisonous if ingested. Pull plants out before the go to seed and flower. This will take a few seasons. Some weed killer may work if it's safe for animals as well? Thank you

[@ingram1225]

4 directions bushcraft thank you. That is essentially what I'm doing

[@4directionsbushcraft]

You are welcome and thank you for watching. I hope I helped you.

[@jeffarp7409]

Ok best video I have seen on wild carrot so far . I know most of the identifiers but I was wondering does yarrow and hemlock have those little spiky leaves underneath the flower head like the carot does.thanks for anybody's input.

[@yourfellowunfunny5283]

Excellent video. Thank you for creating. So Super simple and easily explained, we used it for our cubscout den to learn to identify said plants. Keep up the great identification videos! You do them well.

[@4directionsbushcraft]

Thank you! That is fantastic to hear! I'm so glad I could help teach all of them!

[@michaelpcooksey5096]

Would have been nice to know off the get go that Yarrow was good to eat. But ... looked it up quick before finished your video. Thank you for the video

[@aurelienyonrac]

Thank you for pointing out the difference.

[@alex_mountainbiker_dude7371]

Great video. You might have forgotten to mention that yarrow flowers SMELL completely different from Queen Anne's Lace, and Poison Hemlock.

[@garybrinker4522]

Alexander MacKenzie Is it ok to put your nose in the PH. ?

[@joybickerstaff194]

Hello! I just finished ur video, I wish u’d have shown underneath the yarrow and hemlock as well, and same size plants (hemlock was younger than the other two) I have watched many videos that explained only one plant. and have always wished someone would show all 3 together (makes for better comparison) Thank u. On the many other videos that describe Queen Ann’s Lace, said that not all plants have a dot (flower) on them. Thank u

[@kavabean]

Great video resource. Clearest explanation I've seen.

[@KidNoah2012]

Yikes. I was taught to never touch the stem, leaves or flowers of water hemlock as you may pick up an oil from the plant that could kill you if have a cut or you transfer the chemical to something you are eating, a sandwich say, before washing your hands. Did you suffer any ill effects from doing this?

[@soulshaker9018]

I had the same question but I think its just a matter of making sure it doesn't get in to your system by way of through a cut , or not washing your hands right away ESPECIALLY before eating or putting your hands to your mouth, ALSO , WHEN DOING YARDWORK, if you happen to be using the weedwacker to trim back tall weeds, bee sure to wear gloves AND A good mask , I heard of a man w bleeding lungs in hospital for several weeks from breathing it while cutting back the poison hemlock with the weedeater.He did survive but very easily it could've been deadly.😳😳

[@1jsim]

Thanks for the helpful video distinguishing the three species. I saw in another video though where you’re not supposed to touch poison hemlock without some kind of adverse reaction. Is that true? If so, hope you’re okay!

[@awaitingthetrumpetcall4529]

This is an old video so you may not see my comment but thank you for posting it. I'm going to try to identify yarrow in the wild.

[@illinoisvideoatlarge8039]

Once you identify QAL growing all over the yard and spreading, can I rest assured there is no poison hemlock interspersed?

[@4directionsbushcraft]

+Illinois Video at Large somewhat yes but as you harvest just keep an eye out. Once you identify it will be very easy to tell

[@TommyBrown-Joliet]

good vid. Many thanks for showing the difference in these plants .

[@brittanywaller4938]

I have something like those plants, except the leaves aren't fernlike, the stalk isn't hairy, no spots though either, but it has the white umbrellas..what could it be?

[@soulshaker9018]

When I seen you touching the poison hemlock I thought I remembered someone told me you can become deathly ill from just touching it, is that not true?

[@RosettaAceAlmaak]

All members of the carrot family are phototoxic to some degree (meaning that they can render your skin vulnerable to UV rays) and I'm shocked that he touched them too. The amount of burning they cause depends on the individual plant, so I guess he picked a more docile(?) one. I'm careful even with Queen Anne's lace because some will hurt you. It won't make you sick like eating it will, but it will use the sun to burn you. Don't touch them like this guy did without protection.

[@jesicaloader7214]

Yes! It is true! You are not supposed to touch Poison Hemlock and though this was a great video I don't know why he didn't mention that in this video and why he was touching it on both the leaves and the stalk! He must have a great immune system and maybe not everyone has horrific reactions but....not a gamble most should take. And should be warned about...

[@GrammaRosesHomestead]

EXCELLENT VIDEO! Everything is great except one glaring mistake early on. Yarrow is not in the Apiaceae Family like Poison Hemlock and Queen Anne's lace. Yarrow is a Composite - it's in Asteraceae.

[@tanyaroberson9394]

This was good- I found some Queen anne's lace and wanted to make sure its not Hemlock before I feed it to my rabbits.

[@grantamor7254]

Great video, I would like to see more like this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@j.rivkahasoulin5895]

When is the best time to harvest the root of qal? Thx!

[@kanders7391]

California elderberry also looks similar. But it can grow to tree size.

[@dwwwww]

Great! Now learning and though perhaps yarrow was what the plant is but notice it has the poison hemlock leaves. Flowers already dried up but also should show but yes those leaves are really different. These ones kind of narrow also then fatter then at the tip to a point and from a stem not like yarrow right on. the stem.Thanks! So many medicine plants but one better know what exactly it is. Like critters some are a bit more than just dangerous for humans.

[@annettep.1605]

Isn't water hemlock smaller but even deadlier?

[@downhilltwofour0082]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jadesines5343]

Oh goodness....I apparently have been using poison hemlock in my flower arrangements 🙄😳

[@JumpRopeQueen]

This was so awesome! Thank you!

[@Madronaxyz]

"they come right off of a main branch instead of off of the stem". I cannot figure out how this is different from the other 2 plants.

[@4directionsbushcraft]

+Madronaxyz when looking closer the stems are smooth with purple spots and they are much taller. All the hemlocks are poisonous

[@dainphillips1122]

Why would you not compare all of the features of all of the plants side by side.

[@robinglover4278]

Thank you so very much

[@willowverbiski3592]

Great video , thank you .

[@AlginStrickland]

Is there any way to tell these three from Hogweed? There's been a bit of that in the news lately.

[@Aw-ns1qx]

Giant hogweed, think of poison hemlock (which also grows larger than queen Ann's and yarrow) but n the case of hogweed, its steroids take steroids. It can grow 20 feet tall. It's umbrel/flowers get a meter wide. It has purple on the stem as well as some hairs/pricklys. It would be tough to miss *when fully grown* I am unsure how identifiable it is when it starts. If you ever encounter it, contact someone trained to handle it.

[@dianeknaack2364]

GreT visuals. Very helpful.

[@4directionsbushcraft]

+Diane Knaack thank you

[@phyllisroberts6944]

great video

[@4directionsbushcraft]

+Phyllis Roberts thank you

[@MYPERMACULTUREGARDEN]

Thank you for this !

[@TheDirtyyoungman1]

Very cool vid. Thanks.

[@4directionsbushcraft]

+TheDirtyyoungman1 thank you we appreciate that

[@lenwenzel7440]

When trying to show the purple markings on hemlock you should have looked from the sun lit side of the plant. On the shady side you just don't see those markings at all. Yarrow is not a manger of the carrot.family.

[@TheNancySikes]

Thank you! Subscribed!

[@4directionsbushcraft]

+Sparrow Anderson your very welcome and thank you I really appreciate the support.

[@yusufjorgenz5951]

Just found and replanted yarrow.

[@dharmadoc87]

this is aa great video! thank you so much!

[@4directionsbushcraft]

Thank you I'm glad it helped.

[@jeffbuzzard6837]

Real good info

[@illinoisvideoatlarge8039]

I am curious about drying to sell on eBay

[@AccordionSqueezer]

Why are you touching poison hemlock with your hands?

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

I could see a beginner confusing a species of Angelica with poison hemlock.

[@shinettepietryga6971]

Hey thx very helpful

[@mitchellwintercat]

Poison hemlock at 2.28

[@megahorseballs]

good info thanks

[@4directionsbushcraft]

You're welcome thank you

[@susieque5030]

My motto stay away from anything you don’t plant yourself!

[@SethComedyFan]

the queen has hairy legs

[@georgiadavison4394]

Hey Chris, you're wrong on the family for Yarrow. It is part of the Aster family, NOT the Carrot family. Poison Hemlock and Queen Anne's Lace ARE in the Carrot family. If teaching others, you should have the correct info. !!!

[@canigetahoooyyyaaaaa7319]

Why are you touching the poison hemlock??? 😱

[@davidmarklein]

You have to ingest it before it kills you. As long as you are not pouring stem juice into a cut you dont have much to worry about. As long as you THOROUGHLY was your hands afterwards.

[@maryannwebster5434]

Wonderful film, helped me out.

[@mukmewx]

ive got a semi-hairy stock

[@rachetCD]

I love wild carrot

[@4directionsbushcraft]

+WhiteBoyWithAnIpod it is very tasty

[@rachetCD]

4 directions bushcraft very very much so it's just like store bought baby carrots haha

[@rock5464]

Queen Ann’s lace has hairy legs

[@riverstillwood3158]

Yarrow is NOT a member of the carrot family... Sorry, dude.