Heirloom

Purple Kisses

Daucus carota

Harvest

75-85d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

4–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

24-36 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Purple Kisses in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Purple Kisses · Zones 4–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SeasonWarm season annual

Colordark purple, pink, and white

Size3-5"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Succession Planting

Purple Kisses blooms once per stem and doesn't rebound the way a cut-and-come-again annual does, so staggered sowings are worth the effort if you want continuous flowers through the season. In zone 7, sow indoors every 3 weeks starting in February, transplanting out after last frost in mid-April. Direct sow batches every 3 weeks from April through early June. Stop sowing once daytime highs are consistently above 85°F — germination drops off sharply and plants started in that heat tend to bolt fast without sizing up properly.

For a single flush — say, for a market event or a specific date — one indoor sowing in late February and one direct sow in mid-April gives you two overlapping harvest windows around 75-85 days out from each. That's usually enough spread without managing four or five separate batches.

Complete Growing Guide

Purple Kisses is very similar to Dara, with 3-5" lacy umbels atop strong, sturdy, upright stems. Flowers in shades of dark purple, pink, and approximately 15% white. Highly productive with 7-15 stems per plant. Long lasting in bouquets. Also known as Queen Anne's lace, ornamental carrot, and wild carrot. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Purple Kisses is 75 - 85 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Cold Tolerant, Easy Choice, Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Ideal for Drying and Crafts.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed.

Harvesting

Purple Kisses reaches harvest at 75 - 85 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 3-5" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Small, dry, and ribbed with bristly hairs. The compound umbel of fruits folds inward to form a roundish shape that can be blown by the wind and roll across the ground dropping seeds.

Color: Brown/Copper. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.

Edibility: Leaves, roots, flowers, and seeds are edible. The young fleshy roots can be cooked or eaten raw, the flower clusters can be french-fried to produce a carrot-flavored dish, the aromatic seed is used as a flavoring in stews, etc. The dried roasted roots are ground into a powder and are used for making coffee.

Storage & Preservation

Purple Kisses flowers should be stored in a vase with fresh water at room temperature (65-72°F) for immediate display. Keep stems out of direct sunlight and away from ripening fruits to extend vase life. For short-term fridge storage (1-2 days), place in a cool room (50-55°F) with high humidity. To preserve longer, hang-dry bundles in a dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks to create dried arrangements that last months. Alternatively, press individual flowers between paper towels under weight for flat preservation, or preserve in silica gel to maintain color vibrancy for several weeks. Properly dried or pressed Purple Kisses retain their ornamental appeal for seasonal decorations.

History & Origin

Purple Kisses is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Europe, Eastern Asia and northern Africa

Advantages

+Produces 7-15 stems per plant, making it highly productive and economical
+Dark purple and pink blooms create striking, unique color combinations in arrangements
+Lacy 3-5 inch umbels last exceptionally long once cut for bouquets
+Strong, sturdy upright stems require minimal staking or support structures
+Easy to grow with minimal care requirements, ideal for beginner gardeners

Considerations

-White flowers comprising only 15% may disappoint those seeking pure white blooms
-Flowering window of 75-85 days requires careful succession planting for continuous harvest
-Susceptible to powdery mildew and carrot rust fly in humid growing conditions
-Prefers well-draining soil; poor drainage leads to root rot and plant failure

Companion Plants

Marigolds, Sweet Alyssum, and Nasturtiums are the three worth planting close to Purple Kisses. Tagetes patula deters aphids and whiteflies through both scent and root secretions — it earns its row space on pest pressure alone. Sweet Alyssum flowers by 45-50 days and stays low, so it won't compete for light; it draws hoverflies and parasitic wasps that knock back soft-bodied pests across the whole bed. Nasturtiums pull double duty as a trap crop, pulling aphids onto their own foliage and away from your Daucus umbels. Parsley fits naturally since it shares the Apiaceae family's knack for attracting beneficial insects without crowding aggressively at 12-18 inch spacing.

Keep Purple Kisses well away from Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and Black Walnut (Juglans nigra). Fennel is broadly allelopathic and will suppress neighboring annuals — that family kinship with Daucus carota doesn't grant any immunity. Black Walnut is a different problem: its roots release juglone, a compound toxic enough at concentration to stunt or kill sensitive plants. If there's a walnut on or near your property, measure before you plant — damage has been documented in beds as far as 50-60 feet from the trunk.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Lavender

Deters pests with strong fragrance and attracts pollinators

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and parasitic wasps

Catmint

Repels ants, aphids, and rodents while attracting bees

Zinnia

Attracts butterflies and beneficial predatory insects

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides complementary purple tones

Parsley

Attracts beneficial insects and helps deter some pests

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that can stunt nearby plant growth

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy

Troubleshooting Purple Kisses

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapse at soil level, stems pinched and brown at the base

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungi) — triggered by overwatering and poor drainage in early germination
Starting mix that stays waterlogged, especially in trays with no bottom airflow

What to Do

1.Water only when the top half-inch of mix is dry; bottom-water trays rather than overhead watering
2.Improve airflow with a small fan on seedlings for 1-2 hours a day
3.Start fresh with sterile seed-starting mix — don't reuse old tray soil from a previous season

Leaves develop powdery white coating, usually appearing first on older foliage by midsummer

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe heraclei) — common on Apiaceae family members including Daucus carota in humid conditions
Overcrowded planting below the 12-inch minimum spacing, reducing airflow between stems

What to Do

1.Remove and trash heavily coated leaves — don't compost them
2.Apply a diluted potassium bicarbonate spray (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) every 7 days until symptoms stop spreading
3.Thin or transplant any plants sitting closer than 12 inches apart

Stems and umbels riddled with small soft-bodied insects; flower heads sticky or distorted

Likely Causes

Aphids (commonly black bean aphid, Aphis fabae, or green peach aphid, Myzus persicae) clustering on new growth and flower stems
Absence of predatory insects, often because the garden has no insectary plants nearby

What to Do

1.Knock aphids off with a firm spray of water from a hose — repeat every 2-3 days for two weeks
2.Plant Sweet Alyssum or Parsley within 18 inches to draw in parasitic wasps and hoverflies that feed on aphids
3.If infestation is heavy, apply insecticidal soap directly to affected stems; avoid spraying open flowers

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Purple Kisses flowers last in a vase?▼

Purple Kisses are long-lasting cut flowers, typically lasting 7-10 days or more in fresh water when stored properly. Change the water every 2-3 days and trim stem ends at an angle to maximize vase life. Keep them in a cool location away from direct sun and ethylene-producing fruits for best results.

Are Purple Kisses flowers good for beginners to grow?▼

Yes, Purple Kisses are excellent for beginning gardeners. They're classified as easy to grow, requiring minimal care and attention. They thrive in full sun to partial shade, are highly productive (7-15 stems per plant), and don't demand special soil conditions, making them ideal for first-time ornamental flower growers.

Can you grow Purple Kisses in containers?▼

Purple Kisses can be grown in containers, though they prefer adequate space for their sturdy, upright stems. Use well-draining potting soil and containers at least 12 inches deep. Ensure containers receive 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily. Container growing works best with regular watering and monitoring for consistent moisture.

When should I plant Purple Kisses flowers?▼

Plant Purple Kisses after the last spring frost when soil has warmed. They need 75-85 days to reach harvest maturity, so count backward from your desired flowering time. In areas with mild winters, you can direct sow in fall for spring blooms. Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours) ensures best flowering and stem strength.

What do Purple Kisses flowers look like?▼

Purple Kisses feature beautiful 3-5 inch lacy umbels (flat-topped clusters) in shades of dark purple, pink, and approximately 15% white flowers. They grow atop strong, sturdy, upright stems. Each plant produces 7-15 stems, creating a full, productive display perfect for cutting gardens and floral arrangements.

Is Purple Kisses the same as Queen Anne's lace?▼

Purple Kisses is also known as Queen Anne's lace, ornamental carrot, and wild carrot. It's a cultivated heirloom variety selected for enhanced color and productiveness compared to traditional wild carrot. The plant family and structure are the same, but Purple Kisses offers superior ornamental qualities and more generous flower production.