How large of an area?

Have you tried mowing and bagging repeatedly so it so that it doesn't set seed?

Similar-looking flower, big height difference - are you sure it’s Queen Anne’s Lace and not Hogweed?

yes, this is short and the flowers extend above the leaves. The area is probably 2-3' x 4-6'. I haven't mowed it because it's in an existing bed with mulch and rocks so it'd be a little complicated, could I weed whack it instead? It's established, I bet it's been there for at least 7 years, if not longer.

Can you post a picture? The common name QAL could be a couple of things. The worst would be Aegopodium podagraria. Similar flowers and would grow in shadier locations than Daucus carota or Anthriscus sylvestris. A p is very hard to eradicate.

Queen Anne's Lace is a late summer bloomer and smells like carrots because it is wild carrot. I also think you may have Aegopodium.

I had a Cow Parsnip plant show up in my back garden and it grows like a QAL on steroids. A pic of your actual situation and plants would probably lead to the best advice, but if it’s QAL then it is a biennial. Cut away any that are flowering and they won’t come back. Unless the bed is already full of QAL seeds. :)

I have found the best method is pulling. They're taprooted, and if the conditions are moist a good pull from the base and they'll pop up; a quick one-dig with a shovel helps with the larger ones. I find it similar to pulling dandelions but easier. Tedious if there's a lot of them, though. I had a butt-load in my pasture...still do but have been working at pulling over the course of a couple years; it helps.

In my experience, Hostas are pretty effective at outcompeting other stuff. I'd plant the hostas and continue to pull the QAL, over time, your weeding chore will diminish. That said, I'd advise some natives, as hostas don't support a healthy ecosystem in America.

It's far too early in the season for QAL to be in bloom. I'm with floral that it's likely Aegopodium--VERY difficult to get rid of.

We may never know.....

here's a few photos!!

The leaves on that plant are not Queen Anne’s Lace which has feathery dill-like leaves. I think @floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK called it correctly as aegopodium.

oh noooo!!! I think I'm in trouble...

move.

My experience with invasives is that unless they have a really thick root, like my nemesis, creeping bellflower, you can weedwack and right after weedwacking, spray with round-up. It might take a few applications. I hate roundup, but sometimes, it's what you need.

Yes. That is 100% Aegopodium podagraria aka Bishop Weed. (Or ground Elder in the UK). Good luck.

ok, so weed whack and round up... any other tried and true methods? I spent an hour or so yesterday pulling a section out and trying to get as much of the taproots as I could but they are hard to pull without tearing. Should I not waste time digging it out and just spray the whole thing?

Pulling won't touch it. If you're not keen on herbicide you need to dig the roots out. If they tear they'll regrow. It's not a big patch so not impossible.

Ground Elder | RHS Advice https://share.google/Y3pQzAS63GEoZi3Ah

Note that this advice is for the British Isles where the plant is native, more or less.(It was introduced by the Romans). I don't believe it's native in the US.

When you're digging it out, it’s easy to spread the tiny roots around which are capable of re-rooting and can exacerbate your problem.

Weed whack, spray with round-up and repeat when you see new growth. Bag up everything right there. Don’t carry clippings across your yard or compost it as you may spread the problem. When you think it is eradicated, consider covering to with plastic or thick cardboard for a season or two.

My sympathies. Stay diligent. I purchased a property with various invasives (not yours). It took a backhoe digging out an in-ground oil tank and flipping over the remaining boston ivy to bury it 10’ down to finally get rid of it.

I had a huge invasion of Mug Wort thanks to a neighbor. I tried spraying and black plastic. Nothing slowed it down. I then ordered the heaviest duty landscape paper. I put 2 !! layers overlapped so at seams it was 4 layers and left it one year. Finally no mug wort. I see a small bit occasionally on the perimeter but i just pull all that i can get up and it is easily handled .

Hopefully this would remedy your issue. 🙏c

That is definitely not Queen Anne's lace (OP's photos).

It's been definitively identified above as Aegopodium podagraria.

There's hope, but you have to be very persistent. When I moved into my house I discovered the variegated kind of aegopodium all along the north side. Fortunately, it was hemmed in on one side by the house and on the other by my neighbor's driveway. It took me several years to get rid of it , but I just kept digging up those little white roots and it finally worked.

If for some reason you like the look of this plant, just plant it someplace that's surrounded with concrete.

what's to like? it's positively boring LOL

I suggest you use Roundup for woody plants (stronger and more likely to get the roots) and not weed whack at all. The more leaf surface you have, the more is transferred to the roots. When you get regrowth, hit it again. And again. And again. And for several years, keep a sharp eye out for it, checking the area every couple of weeks. During this time, do not plant anything else in the area.

Brush Killer works perfectly on this kind of growth. It works on the fresh open cut so you go along and cut off the plants and apply the Brush Killer to the newly opened spot. I have succesfully killed Wisteria and privet hedges and bamboo with it. I didn’t know about it when I was trying to get rid of the Mug Wort.The great thing about Brush Killer is it is systemic and does not effect anything nearby …. nothing. I have used a small paint brush for close persistent weeds and for the Wisteria I severed as much as I could and poured it directly from the jug onto the stump.

Everything in the area, this was 3 yrs ago , is still perfect. Good luck.

You can get it at Lowes, Walmart , Tractor Supply etc. c

I'm struggling. I purchased the Round Up and I can't bear using it. I have several things planted near it that I don't want to kill.... I think I'm going to try an aggressive dig out because then I can plant right over it. I don't want to wait so long for the area to recover from the pesticides.

use the Brush Killer. it Doesn’t spread to anything else. I have used a small paint brush on plants that are inches apart. only the plant I painted died never to return. I wouldn’t use Round Up

Even if you dig it 'aggressively' you are certain to miss fragments of root and it will return. Digging needs to be repeated and you shouldn't replant the area for at least a year imo. If you want it done quickly use herbicide. You can cover nearby plants to be sure .

ok, you've convinced me. I'll buy the Brush Killer and be extra careful around the edges where my other plants are.

Cut it off leave it long enough so you can reach the fresh cut stems. Mix it in a clean paint can or small bucket. walk along brushing it liberally on the CUT stems. It is systemic not absorbed as well at all in intact leaves. I have used full strength on Wisteria and Privet. Waited 2 weeks has never returned . 👍