Giant Hogweed?

icklejuliaCNvpoGqf · September 2020

Hi, I'm trying to work out whether this plant is giant hogweed? The pictures aren't very good, one is taken in mid June and the other in early September. they are 2-3 high (mostly sitting on a mound of old earth so they look bigger than they are. In spring they had large white flower heads. The stems at the bottom are around an inch thick when green. Our neighbour doesn't think it is and it is on their land, so would like an opinion from someone

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else. Many thanks, Julia

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Joy* · September 2020

Welcome. It's a bit difficult to tell from your photographs. Giant hogweed is one of a large family of plants which includes cow parsley, known as rabbit meat where I live! The dead stalks you can see do look suspicious but if only 2 or 3 feet high aren't really big enough for hogweed. If 2 or 3 metres, you are probably right to be worried. I had loads of rabbit meat in my orchard but I don't remember it having such thick stems but I did wage war on it.

Silver surfer · September 2020

Cannot be sure.
1st pic not clear enough.
You will need to wait and watch for next spring.
Too late this year to do anything.

I am inclined to say it is not Heracleum mantegazzianum...common name Giant hogweed.as the seed heads do not look beefy enough.
Plants can easily be 3m tall,leaves are huge, stems are hollow.
See link...

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-giant-hogweed-heracleum-mantegazzianum-introduced-invasive-species-33154532.html

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Silver surfer · September 2020

See above. To add.....
If soil was dumped on your neighbours land and came from near a river bank there is every chance that it is giant hogweed.
Once the flower release the seeds it will spread very quickly.

Beware...highly toxic...causes 3rd degree burns
Watch children cos stem hollow they have in past been tempted to use as pea shooters.

https://www.google.com/search?q=heracleum+mantegazzianum+burns&rlz=1C1CHBF_enGB785GB785&sxsrf=ALeKk03fQHWyz-FL2L8p629akb1vh41aGg:1601285039560&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi68d3Pw4vsAhXTQUEAHbd9Ak8Q_AUoAXoECA4QAw&biw=1280&bih=578

https://www.google.com/search?q=giant+hogweed+mouth+burns&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjbjZexxIvsAhUN8xoKHaoBD4EQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=giant+hogweed+mouth+burns&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDFC7UljAfmCDjwFoAHAAeACAAWyIAcwEkgEDMy4zmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=e6xxX5vkN43ma6qDvIgI&bih=579&biw=1280&client=firefox-b-d#imgrc=csFH2gRo9yDHUM

icklejuliaCNvpoGqf · September 2020

Thank you. we'll keep and eye on it next spring and try and treat it. As you say, the flour heads look different. We did manage to cut a few down in summer and they were hollow in the middle but tough to lop. There are no rivers nearby thankfully but it is an area of clay that gets water logged in the winter. The leaves look similar as well. Thankfully we were wearing gloves so didn't get burnt but a neighbour had a rather nasty rash after going near it but they refuse to acknowledge what it might be, so we will simply have to monitor it over time and hope it doesn't spread into our garden.

Fairygirl · September 2020

I'd agree with @Silver surfer that the flower heads look far too small. There's no mistaking giant hogweed when you see it.
Did you mean metres in your first post? It just says '2- 3 high'.

Giant hogweed is later flowering too, and you said it was spring flowering, so I doubt it's giant hogweed. The standard hogweed can get to a fair height though, and is more of a 'spring into summer' flowering plant, depending on your location.

Asarum · September 2020

I think it is Hemlock, Conium maculatum. Also a poisonous plant that has spread amazingly over the last 10 years or so.

icklejuliaCNvpoGqf · September 2020

Fairygirl said:

I'd agree with @Silver surfer that the flower heads look far too small. There's no mistaking giant hogweed when you see it.
Did you mean metres in your first post? It just says '2- 3 high'.
Giant hogweed is later flowering too, and you said it was spring flowering, so I doubt it's giant hogweed. The standard hogweed can get to a fair height though, and is more of a 'spring into summer' flowering plant, depending on your location.

yes meters not feet

Fairygirl · September 2020

I wondered if that's what you meant. The ordinary hogweed isn't that big, so perhaps @Asarum is right.
Not a plant I'm familiar with.

icklejuliaCNvpoGqf · September 2020

Asarum said:

I think it is Hemlock, Conium maculatum. Also a poisonous plant that has spread amazingly over the last 10 years or so.

Now that is very interesting, it might well be Hemlock, Conium maculatum! The flower heads look similar. Same purple stems and i'm sure the foliage looked closer to this as well

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post everyone.

Dovefromabove · September 2020

Show us a pic of the new growth in the spring ... it’ll be clear then 😊

Giant Hogweed?

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