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The Maine Department of Agriculture says: “Don’t panic!—It’s probably not giant hogweed!”

June 13, 2012

Contact: Contact: Ann Gibbs
207-287-3891

AUGUSTA—Giant hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum, a large, invasive plant whose sap can cause severe skin irritation, has been getting a lot of attention in Maine news recently. As a result, the Maine Department of Agriculture has been receiving numerous calls from individuals who think they have identified the plant in their area.

Fortunately, with very few exceptions, this is not the case.

“Almost all of the calls turned out to be cow parsnip and not giant hogweed,” said Maine State Horticulturist Ann Gibbs. “From the more than 50 inquiries that have come in so far, we have identified only two sites with giant hogweed.”

Most of the reports are for cow parsnip, Heracleum maximum, a close relative of giant hogweed native to North America and quite common, especially in coastal areas, Gibbs said.

A significant difference between the two plants is that cow parsnip appears to flower earlier than giant hogweed.

“So if you are seeing plants now with an emerging flower stalk or in full bloom, they are probably cow parsnip,” said Gibbs. “People should still be cautious when breaking the stems of cow parsnip and avoid getting sap on their skin, but there is no need to panic. Many plants produce sap that can cause skin reactions."

“You won’t get a reaction from just brushing up against the leaves, but, when cutting the plants, wear gloves, long sleeves, and pants,” the state horticulturist advised.

If anyone is concerned that they might have giant hogweed, Gibbs asks that, before calling, they first check the Department of Agriculture website at: http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pi/pestsurvey/pestinfo/gianthogweed.htm

Click on the look-alike link, and then, if Maine residents still are uncertain, they can e-mail photographs of the plant in question, including a close-up of leaves and stems to the Department. Complete contact information can be found on the website.

“In this case, a photo is indeed worth a thousand words, and the plants can be identified quite quickly,” said Gibbs.

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, go to: http://www.maine.gov/agriculture

Contact: Ann Gibbs, 207-287-3891, ann.gibbs@maine.gov

Related Files

Photo: Hogweed leaves with ruler (photo courtesy of Barbara Strubell). Giant hogweed is a large, invasive plant, whose sap can cause severe skin irritation. The plant often is confused with look-a-like plants. Only two hogweed sites in Maine have been identified by the Maine Department of Agriculture.

Photo: Cow parsnip with white flowers (photo courtesy of Barry Mower). Cow parsnip, which looks similar to its close relative, the noxious giant hogweed, is common in Maine and often confused with it. The Maine Department of Agriculture encourages Maine residents to check the Department’s website for identification tips.