I can foresee problems in the minds of the public confusing our native Hogweed [which is harmless] with the Giant Hogweed simply on the name. Is their an alternative name for hogweed that I could use to avoid panic anyone if Iidentify the plant for them? I can understand why Giant Hogweed is sensationalised, it can genuinely cause a lot more problems than Monkshood and more importantly it looks the part of a dangerous alien plant.
i have experience of giant hogweed burns, very, very nasty (like after snapping a flowering spike, the skin on the palm of my right hand pealed off over the next week, as well as splash marks where the sap had hit my arms, legs and side of my face!) and i still have the scars nearly 10 years later - this stuff is nasty to the extreme!!
easy way to tell the difference between native and giant hogweed, if its flowering and its bigger than shoulder height - its giant hogweed, its illegal to grow it anywhere and its the land owners responsibility to remove it once it is discovered
...easy way to tell the difference between native and giant hogweed, if its flowering and its bigger than shoulder height - its giant hogweed, its illegal to grow it anywhere and its the land owners responsibility to remove it once it is discovered
And the leaves of H. sphodylium are a very dull, flat green compared to H.mantegazzianum.
I used to grow the latter, it's splendid and I never had a problem but I think it's one of those things that doesn't always happen. Conditions, stage of growth of plant and maybe weather, have to be right. (or wrong).
It's like euphorbias, I've pruned, damaged, dug up and otherwise tortured many euphorbias and only be bitten once.
Is it true that land owners have a responsibilty to eliminate it? Judging by the profusion along the banks of the River Irwell, if it is true then Bolton and Salford Councils will have their work cut out destrying it on their own property and enforcing the destruction on private land. If I ever saw a young plant coming up in my locality [ not a prvate garden of course, there I would let the householder know what a menace they have] I would use one those hand held glyphosate sprays without consulting any land owner.
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We still have the 11+ and grammar schools in bucks.
Depends which county you are in.
I can foresee problems in the minds of the public confusing our native Hogweed [which is harmless] with the Giant Hogweed simply on the name. Is their an alternative name for hogweed that I could use to avoid panic anyone if Iidentify the plant for them? I can understand why Giant Hogweed is sensationalised, it can genuinely cause a lot more problems than Monkshood and more importantly it looks the part of a dangerous alien plant.
The use of 'proper' names removes any confusion
Heracleum sphondylium, common hogweed, a native
Heracleum mantegazzianum, giant hogweed, an alien
In the sticks near Peterborough
i have experience of giant hogweed burns, very, very nasty (like after snapping a flowering spike, the skin on the palm of my right hand pealed off over the next week, as well as splash marks where the sap had hit my arms, legs and side of my face!) and i still have the scars nearly 10 years later - this stuff is nasty to the extreme!!
easy way to tell the difference between native and giant hogweed, if its flowering and its bigger than shoulder height - its giant hogweed, its illegal to grow it anywhere and its the land owners responsibility to remove it once it is discovered
Not quite true Treehugger https://www.gov.uk/prevent-the-spread-of-harmful-invasive-and-non-native-plants
and I've come across native hogweed in flower at least as tall as me and I'm 5'6" . The best way to tell the difference is by the leaves. Giant hogweed has jagged leaves - Common hogweed leaflets are more rounded at the edges. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blogs/woodland-trust/2015/07/giant-hogweed-the-facts/
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
And the leaves of H. sphodylium are a very dull, flat green compared to H.mantegazzianum.
I used to grow the latter, it's splendid and I never had a problem but I think it's one of those things that doesn't always happen. Conditions, stage of growth of plant and maybe weather, have to be right. (or wrong).
It's like euphorbias, I've pruned, damaged, dug up and otherwise tortured many euphorbias and only be bitten once.
In the sticks near Peterborough
This has come up in response to the newspaper
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blogs/woodland-trust/2015/07/giant-hogweed-the-facts/
thank you for correcting me rainbowfish. I went to a comp in SW Scotland, we didn't have grammar schools there.
I was at a garden open day and someone asked the owner what that striking plant was
" giant hogweed" came the reply,
" I love it, where can I buy one? "
" I'll dig a seedling up for you if you want" " Oh , yes please"
and off the owner went to fetch her spade.
I'm assuming the military are aware of giant hogweed? Just read the Daily Star's story...use napalm perhaps?
Is it true that land owners have a responsibilty to eliminate it? Judging by the profusion along the banks of the River Irwell, if it is true then Bolton and Salford Councils will have their work cut out destrying it on their own property and enforcing the destruction on private land. If I ever saw a young plant coming up in my locality [ not a prvate garden of course, there I would let the householder know what a menace they have] I would use one those hand held glyphosate sprays without consulting any land owner.