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Giant Hogweed

This plant knows how to protect itself, so please do not touch or attempt to damage it, because it causes very severe skin irritation, seek advice before removing it.

Saying that, this plant grows up to 15ft tall and is very impressive. It was imported from Asia as a garden plant because of its wow factor. Unfortunately the plant has the ability to send thousands of seeds every where and now is found in many other places besides the garden particularly along river banks. Its official name is Heracleum mantegazzianum and is a member of the parsley or carrot family, but obviously not recommended for the dinner table.

This particular specimen is about 10ft tall, in full flower in late June and was found on the banks of the River Irwell in Manchester, England. It reminds me of the plants in the book The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham, that tried to take over the world !

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Global Hogweed Map

Submit a location in the comment box if you have seen Giant Hogweed or had dealings with it, and we will put it on our map below plus any information you would like to tell us.

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A great response, sightings, locations

or information please keep sending them in.

My daughter last weekend got severe burning on the top of her foot from Giant Hogweed, we live on the banks of the Deveron in Aberdeenshire. We are still treating her burns now and the healing is very slow. - Anon

COLERIDGE ROAD, SHEFFIELD. NEXT TO CANAL BRIDGE AND FOOTBRIDGE OVER COLERIDGE ROAD. - Anon

Pretty sure I have just seen a patch of this plant (10 ft + in height) in Shipton Moyne Glos. - Anon

We have giant hog weed in our flower garden on Manitoulin island, Ontario, We dug them up right down to the roots ( with gloves ) placed in a garbage bag & they died .throw bag in garbage, This works ! - Anon

In the UK you have to be very careful how you dispose of invasive weeds.

http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/63115.aspx

Seen on River Cart at field at Moulin Circus GLASGOW. A few children have already been burnt by it. - Anon

Seen in Ockley, Surrey approximately 13 feet! Amazing! - Anon

Standon Ford, Standon, Hertfordshire. June 2009 - Anon

Stevenage - Anon

my 5 yr old son has been off school all week due to this horrible plant his hands where covered in enormous blisters and we are lucky he didn't put it in his mouth - Anon

Just found one in my garden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! very worried. Moving house, any interest? - Anon

I live in Woodstock, Ontario and I have what I believe to be Giant Hogweed in our backyard. From all the research I've been able to do online with descriptions and pictures, it seems like I do have this horrid weed that just won't go away! And now with Ontario's ban on pesticides and what not, I'm not sure how we're going to deal with it.. - Anon

I recently bought a house in Trepassey Newfoundland Canada where the entire area seems to be over taken with Giant Hogweed. Not knowing what it was I tried hauling them out of the ground causing myself and my friend some nasty stings. The plants covering my property were about 8 feet tall last summer and by the fall were dying and covered in some sort of worms. I went out there today and decided to try to clear them out before they started growing this year. I got to a giant portion of the root about 5 inches underground but then portions of the root branches off in various directions. I only got through 3 plants before giving up for now. - Anon

In the middle of a yard clearance in central Edinburgh, Scotland and unfortunately have an infestation of the stuff to deal with... glyphosate seems to be the best answer and patience. - Anon

I live in Kearsley near Bolton, England and have just been for a walk on the Irwell where I grew up and was amazed at the amount of hogweeds. would go as far as to say hundreds - Anon

We have been working on the island of Fyn in Denmark, putting roundup on millions of them - Anon

getting burnt by it is horrible - Anon

I have found hogweed by my house in Elma new york and i've also seen it out by my grandparents in franklinville new york - Anon

My Job is dealing with invasive weeds. i am currently tackling Giant hogweed and it is possible. It just needs very careful monitoring making sure that all seeds are removed from the plant whenever they are seen as they can last as long as 15 years in the ground. keep killing it and it will end one day. - Anon

In Upstate NY, there was somewhat of an outbreak, which I heard of from persons around the Little Falls area. - Anon

Came across a swathe of Giant Hogweed whilst going looking for a cave on the south bank of the River Trent near Foremark in South Derbyshire. Gave up looking for the cave, and will return late winter! Just a little west of here - Anon

got stung at the weekend in my garden in Swansea South Wales- Anon

have found 4 plants in Ruabon, near Wrexham, Wales, UK. they are about 12 feet tall and the trunks are 3 to 4 inches across. was amazed at the size of them...in a good way at first, but sounds like i should let the local council know about them after reading this article ..so thanks to whoever maintains it. Dave

Fletcher's Creek in Brampton, Canada. - Anon

Yes, we here in Cumbria have a big problem with this weed and it's everywhere! I am always hacking it away but it starts to grow somewhere else, I hate the stuff, just wish my veg would grow just as good and fast!!! Eden Valley. Anon

We have Giant Hogweed here in Milton, Ontario. above Steeles in the farm areas. Find it in abundance along Esquesing (4th Line) and 5 Side Rd West of 4th Line. I haven't seen it south of that area (yet). I can't count how many people I have stopped from picking them to bring home. Anon

Found in Port Elgin by Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada Anon

There's reports of giant hogweed in various parks in Markham, Ontario, Canada. There is much concern about the safety of residents and raising awareness of the plant's toxicity, as well as educating municipal workers on how to remove it safely. Anon

There is quite a lot of Giant Hogweed along the banks of the River Tern at Market Drayton. UK It is in quite a dangerous position here because it's right next to a children's' play area and a picnic area used by young people. I see today someone has been cutting the stems of near the ground. (I wonder if that's children) A Barnett 27.6.08

I have come across giant hogweed all over Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada. It is really starting to be very noticeable along all damp roadways with ditches. We have been attacking it at a remote campsite we go to just north of Campbell River. How it got there we do not know. Probably seeds spread by logging trucks and recreational vehicles, etc. We met a lady who lives in Parksville who has low lying property along a river and she has been trying to get rid of it for many years. Please everyone, keep getting rid of it. Don't give up !!! Every plant we get rid of helps stop the spread and keeps another child out of danger. Anon

Yes it grows in Dorset too in the Char Valley, though it did look bigger thank for the page very informative Anon

found in granville massachusetts usa Anon

I've just moved to Kent in the last 2 years and I found out the hard way this stuff made me ill with 2-5 inch blisters that burst after a few days. I was sick and could not leave the bath room this year it has come back with vengeance but I will get rid by digging it up and burning IT. I have been told if you cut it down to ground level bang a stick into the roots then pour diesel into the root this will get rid of it Anon

If you put diesel in the soil you may pollute it and it may get into the local water supply, your likely to get fined by the local water authority and kill loads of fish. Not a good idea at all. Please contact the local council on the best way of getting rid of it.

Hi Giant Hogweed is a dangerous plant and I have seen the aftermath of kids using the hollow stems as Pea Shooters These kids health will never be the same again There is Giant Hogweed everywhere in Scotland and the rest of the u.k It is the only plant in the u.k that if our local council are informed of this plant growing that they must eradicate it by law Sandy

They are invincible! They are impervious to all our herbicidal batterings! ;_; Anon

cheaking out sight because we are getting warnings that they are finding hogweed in our area I'm from Hector NY right out side of Watkins Glen sounds like some bad stuff to have around.

Nick Very serious problem they are too !!

Merv The last time I saw the plant (before emigrating to Australia) was along the banks of the River Tees at Yarm in the North Riding. News reports likened it to Triffids. :-)

Jenna I was just reading my July Michigan Out-Of-Doors magazine and there is an article about Hogweed discovered growing near Ironwood in the Ottawa National Forest. Sounds like some nasty stuff! Nice pics!

Iris It grows around here too. We also have poison hemlock. Iris, Central NY.

JimN "Stamp them out, We must destroy them." From "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" by Genesis.

SED Here in Colorado we call it Cow parsnip. It grows wild up in the foothills, usually near a stream. They even have one of them growing in Denver Botanic Gardens as an ornamental.

PJ Nice photos. We have a lot of it down here in Cornwall. There is a river one mile away next to a Garden Nursery and Plant Collection where the banks are heavily populated. It is, as you say, one mean plant and can well take care of itself.

EdwinH I have seen some noble specimens next to the river Medway near Maidstone in Kent. Remember not to touch it. You will get a very nasty rash if you do. It is of course illegal to plant it now, like the Japanese Knotweed

I was walking by the Irwell today and saw LOTS of these. I had no idea what they were, but thanks to this page I do. There are lots there now, and they are HUGE! Anon

OZ A large number of specimens around the 'Gleneagles' region of Scotland. Interesting connection with the G8 - invasive, dangerous life forms that seek to destroy our environment for their own benefit. Sounds like a working definition of contemporary capitalism. Anon

Here in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland) and there in Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) is also a lot of Giant Hogweeds as wild, too. The Giant Hogweed are dangerous for original nature in Scandinavia and Baltia. The Giant Hogweed bears even minus 20-30 Celsius degrees frosts every winter. Next summer the Giant Hogweed grows well, mur. >:-(

I got into hog weed it stunk!! Anon

On the North Circular, London, there are a few places along there where it can be seen. The two most notable are a few 100 m from the Hoover building (on both sides of the road) and behind a fence opposite Hoo-Hing oriental supermarket. Anon

i just got poison oak. i would hate to stumble into the evil hog weed. god help us all. - Anon

Plant found at St Bridgets Catholic Primary School, Warrington, Cheshire. Spores imported in top soil.- Anon

Giant Hogweed looks very outlandish and am very nervous about being near this plant. I have no idea what the tallest of all Hogweed has been recorded or how long it lives for? - Anon

We have these plants in our yard and we called the health Dept. Is there anything else to do.Anon

Take the advice of your health department and don't touch them, don't take a chain saw, axe, or use a strimmer as explained below as even the splinters of the plant will cause burning blisters. Ouch!

I was strimming a path and brush cutting blackthorn suckers in a wood colonised by giant hogweed. I have never been allergenic to anything, but the impact of the hogweed chips onto my arms - particularly at the inner elbow caused blisters and redness exacerbated by sunlight. Don't strim in short sleeves and wear a visor when there is hogweed about. Roger A, S Devon

I had to remove a plant today at work. I live in Nanaimo, BC, Canada Anon

Turn and run! Nothing can stop them. Anon

We have hogweed along every river bank in Ireland, although the government has tried to eradicate them, every spring they seem to come back, stronger and in larger groups Anon

There are many infestations of Giant Hogweed in the Forres area in Moray. People at the Findhorn Foundation have been recruited to try and eliminate it from the local bay but its a hard job. Its all over the place - one of the worst is actually on land owned by Moray Council! Anon

I started my war against Giant hogweed 1986 in Sweden. Anon

Its worth pointing out that this is NOT the same as cow parsnip. Don't get frantic people, those plants you see along every riverbank in the UK and US are probably not Giant Hogweeds (Heracleum Mantegazzianum) but more likely Common Hogweed (Heracleum Sphondylium) or Cow Parsnip (Heracleum Lanatum). Smaller, less scary. Anon

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