Table of Contents
Is a giant hogweed plant dangerous?
Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is often referred to as the UK’s most dangerous plant, with its toxic sap that can cause life changing burns and blisters for those that come into contact with it.
What should you do if you find a giant hogweed plant?
Giant hogweed is a controlled waste (similar to Japanese knotweed) so, if it is taken off site, can only be disposed of in licensed landfill sites with the required documentation. To avoid this, dispose of any plant material (dug up or cut down) by composting or burning.
What problems does hogweed cause?
Description. Giant hogweed is a poisonous exotic plant. The sap of giant hogweed contains toxins that are activated by light (natural or artificial UV rays). Contact with giant hogweed sap, combined with exposure to light, causes pain and skin lesions similar to burns.
How can you tell if a plant is giant hogweed?
The main stem of giant hogweed is strong and hollow. It is 4 to 10 cm in diameter. It is covered with rough white hairs scattered all over the stem but mostly at the base of the leaf stalk. It has extensive and prominent reddish-purple blotches.
How do I get rid of hogweed in my garden?
Treating persistent weeds like Giant Hogweed is easy with a suitable Glyphosate-based weedkiller. This special ingredient is absorbed by the leaves and moves throughout the entire weed, above and below ground, killing the whole weed through to its roots.
Is Queen Annes lace the same as hogweed?
A Queen Anne’s Lace flowercap typically has a small knot of dark red or purple flowers in the center. The stem is slightly hairy and solid green. In contrast, giant hogweed has a smooth stem with reddish spots and streaks and no dark flowers in the flowercap.
What other plants look like hogweed?
Early in the growing season these leaves bear a similarity to Common Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) and Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum) which are related plants common in Europe and North America and frequently mistaken for each other.
Does giant hogweed look like cow parsley?
For while giant hogweed bears a striking resemblance to its harmless relative common hogweed, as well as the often confused cow parsley, it is in fact a much nastier proposition and should be given a wide berth.