Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) — Plotwright

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Carrot

Habit (mature) · Böhringer Friedrich / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5

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Carrot

Daucus carota subsp. sativus

An annual or biennial Apiaceae root vegetable grown for its orange (or purple, white, yellow, red) taproot. Foliage hosts black swallowtail caterpillars — the same Apiaceae specialist that uses parsley. NC State notes the wild form (Daucus carota subsp. carota, Queen Anne's lace) is the same species + interfertile with cultivated carrots; do not let cultivated carrots overwinter to seed in areas where wild Queen Anne's lace is also present.

Review: Source-backed

Edible

Pollinator

Light

Full sun

Water

Consistent moisture

Mature size

10-24" tall · 3" apart

Hardy in zones

Annual everywhere

Summer heat range

Cool-Mild

cool to mild summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.

Native in Illinois

No

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A documented larval host for the Black swallowtail — specialist wildlife that depend on plants like this to reproduce.

Wildlife relationships

Cold hardiness

This plant is grown as an annual; hardiness zones don't apply.

Heat tolerance

°C

°F

Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…

Sources & citations

Cite this page

For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.

Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/carrot

Sources for every fact

Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited — 18 source-backed.

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

University extension service

Backs 17 fields

Identity

Summary

Plant type

Light

Moisture

Hardiness

Heat zone

Size

Spacing

Habit

Design roles

Seasonal interest

Growth stages

Lifecycle

Regional guidance

Success tips

Designer notes

Wikimedia Commons

Photo · CC BY-SA 2.5

Backs 1 field

Image

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