What is Giant Hogweed?
Hogweed can grow as high as 6 meters having a dark reddish stem that can grow 5-10 cm in diameter. Leaf stalks are spotted and produce a compound leaf that can expand to 1.5 meters across. Each leaflet is deeply grooved or divided. Both stems and stalks are hollow and produce course hairs around a blister like area on the plant. In summer small white flowers form into a large umbrella-shaped head which can reach up to 1 meter in diameter. Where is Giant Hogweed found? It can be found throughout southern Ontario. Isolated plants have even been reported as far north as Haliburton County. Hogweed can grow in a wide variety of habitats, however it is most often found along roadsides, streams and riverbanks. How does Giant Hogweed Affect you? The blister like areas on stems and stalks leak a clear watery sap containing furocoumarins (psoralens), which sensitize skin to ultraviolet radiation (sunlight). Exposure to sunlight can cause severe burns that usually result in blistering and painful
Giant hogweed is a large pant native to Asia that has made its way around the world. It can grow 15-20 feet (4.5-6m) tall with a stem that has a diameter of 2-4 inches (5-10cm). The leaves of a giant hogweed plant grow to about 5 feet (1.5m) in width. Giant hogweed has lacy, white umbel flowers that can reach a diameter of 2 ½ feet (0.7m). Giant hogweed was introduced into the United States around 1917 as an ornamental garden plant. It has escaped cultivation and become well established in many parts of the country. It is found abundantly in the western part of New York State, Connecticut and Massachusetts. It also flourishes on the west coast of the United States in Oregon and Washington, as well as in Canada and throughout Europe. Giant hogweed is very adaptive and can thrive in a wide range of habitats. It lives on river banks, near streams, on roadsides, in vacant lots, in yards and gardens or in any other cool, wet areas. Hogweed spreads fairly slowly, but persistently. Giant hogw
Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a member of the Parsley family (which includes Wild Carrot, Fool’s Watercress, Cow Parsley, Hogweed, Wild Angelica, Alexanders, Sweet Cicely and Hemlock) and is native to Asia. It has hollow green/purple stems with fine spines, that make them appear furry, and dark green coarsely toothed leaves. Small white flowers are arranged in flat-top umbrella-like clusters. Fattened, oval fruits with a broadly rounded base are produced by the plant. Giant hogweed can grow up to 3-5 metres tall, with individual umbels measuring up to half a metre across and leaves up to 2 metres across. The plants’ dense canopy can out-compete native species and cause stream bank erosion in riparian areas when the large shading plant dies back late in the year leaving riverbanks exposed to the elements. Giant Hogweed reproduces through seeds produced in late summer and/or perennial buds that form on the root stalks of the crown. It can produce up to 50,000 seeds per plan
