Rainbow Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus 'Rainbow')

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carrots
Featured
Sun Requirements
Full Sun
Toxicity
Leaves are poisonous, Other: taproot is edible
Uses
Erosion control, Cut Flower, Dried Flower, Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant
Bees, Butterflies
Containers
Not suitable for containers
Flower Color
White
Flower Time
Late spring or early summer, Summer, Late summer or early fall
Flowers
Showy
Life cycle
Biennial
Minimum cold hardiness
Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
Plant Habit
Herb/Forb
Plant Height
3 ft. or more
Propagation: Seeds
Sow in situ
Detailed Information

The “Rainbow Carrot” isn’t a distinct species or variety with a specific native region. It’s a *cultivar* of the common carrot, *Daucus carota subsp. sativus*.

Therefore:

* **Common Carrot Origin:** The wild ancestor of the cultivated carrot, *Daucus carota*, originated in the **Middle East and Central Asia (particularly the area around modern-day Iran and Afghanistan)**.
* **Cultivation and Diversification:** The rainbow carrots are a result of selective breeding to enhance certain pigments like anthocyanins (purple), beta-carotene (orange), and lycopene (red). This diversification happened over time as carrots spread from their original region to different parts of the world. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where rainbow carrots were first specifically cultivated.

In short, rainbow carrots are simply cultivated carrots with a mix of pigments. The species is native to the Middle East and Central Asia.

Not suitable for containers