I'm not sure why you're shocked that people want to plant this weed. I'm actually quite jealous you have such an established lot of it growing! I realize you probably aren't interested in it's medicinal properties, but it's quite the herb! Perhaps if you weren't already aware, maybe now you'll have a better appreciation of it and a possible use for it. If not, well then at least you know why people like myself would want to grow it. I have struggled with trying to find natural alternatives for birth control (the synthetic hormones in the pill have very serious side effects) and am happy to have finally found something viable. I hope it becomes less of a nightmare for you either way. I can understand how unwanted plants in the garden can bring unrivaled amounts of stress! Cheers! Meg The wild carrot is an aromatic herb that acts as a diuretic, soothes the digestive tract and stimulates the uterus. A wonderfully cleansing medicine, it supports the liver, stimulates the flow of urine and the removal of waste by the kidneys. An infusion is used in the treatment of various complaints including digestive disorders, kidney and bladder diseases and in the treatment of dropsy. An infusion of the leaves has been used to counter cystitis and kidney stone formation, and to diminish stones that have already formed. Carrot leaves contain significant amounts of porphyrins, which stimulate the pituitary gland and lead to the release of increased levels of sex hormones. The plant is harvested in July and dried for later use. A warm water infusion of the flowers has been used in the treatment of diabetes. The grated raw root, especially of the cultivated forms, is used as a remedy for threadworms. The root is also used to encourage delayed menstruation. The root of the wild plant can induce uterine contractions and so should not be used by pregnant women. An infusion is used in the treatment of oedema, flatulent indigestion and menstrual problems. The seed is a traditional 'morning after' contraceptive and there is some evidence to uphold this belief. It requires further investigation. Carrot seeds can be abortifacient and so should not be used by pregnant women. Ancient folk lore said that to cure epileptic seizures you should eat the dark coloured middle flower of Queen Annes Lace. The flower is also used in ancient rituals an spells, for women to increase fertility and for men to increase potency and sexual desire! Here is a link that might be useful: The Wild Carrot - Queen Annes Lace

Well, now I have something to check into as what was growing in my marsh I assumed to be Daucus carota. Now I really wonder if I don't have Conium maculatum as it is all looking the exact same to me. Thank you to rayallen as I also assumed what was growing in my woodlands was QAL and it may in fact be Poison Hemlock. I knew QAL was not a native and had European origins so I have been getting rid of as much of it as I can as it sure did take over here in a very short period of time. I hand pulled the crap which may not have been the best idea. I was wearing gloves and tossed it directly into a garbage can. Lycopus, what is the best way for me to get rid of whatever I have here? All of what I have been trying to yank has that hideously long tap root like Burdock that breaks off at ground level.

You misspoke, dear Kimmsr. You said, "The flower of Queen Annes [sic] Lace is a food source for many of the predator insects out there." I am fully aware of phytophagous insects that feed on this plant. No predatory insects are likely to feed on the flower or any other plant part. Just wanting to be more accurate for coaks22 and wondering if you had some secret information. ;-) I guess you meant, but didn't say, that Queen Anne's Lace can attract predatory insects to feed on the insects that feed on the flowers. But, frankly, it does a second rate job at that. The fact that is ranked as a noxious weed all across the country is pretty significant. Coaks22, to answer your question...there really isn't a good method of control over this weed in your pachysandra other than hand pulling. Since it is a biennial, you might gain the upper hand with the judicious use of a pre-emergent herbicide, but I suggest you research that avenue before thinking about it. Successful herbicide use requires education, planning, and preparation. I'll bet that your local Cornell Extension office would be of some good help with this problem. I vividly remember Queen Anne's Lace growing like crazy all over the place, from my childhood days in central NY state.

I know this is really old, but I just found it now. The pictured plants look nothing like the aegopodium I have in my yard, but I have the variegated version so might not be able to recognize the plain green one. An easy way to distinguish mine from QAL is the height (along with variegation). Aegopodium is quite short - 8" out of bloom, maybe 15" when blooming. Queen Anne's lace is TALL - I have 4 foot stalks and flowers in one of my perennial beds and they are one of the weeds wrecking it. It's fall now and they've gone to seed, so the seeds are sticking to my clothes like crazy. I have found NOTHING so far telling how to get it out of a flower bed. Hand pulling? Yeah, if you can recognize them when they're small. Herbicide? Not when they are in the middle of my irises and daylilies. Mowing? Uh... no. If I can yank them all out this fall - which would be tough because the only way is to dig up all the irises, daylilies and other plants in the bed - I suspect a pre-emergent herbicide might be the best thing, because undoubtedly a lot of seeds will fall into the soil while the plants are being removed. By the way, aegopodium can be controlled by putting metal edging underground around them, as it does spread by roots/rhizomes, but while the variegated variety is gorgeous, plain green would be deadly dull and boring.