NC INVASIVE PLANT COUNCIL
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Giant Hogweed

Heracleum mantegazzianum

Giant hogweed has only been reported in Watuga County, North Carolina but it has caused problems in both the northeast and the Pacific Northwest and is listed as a federal noxious weed. The plant’s sap is poisonous and can cause severe burns and blindness. It also produces a dense canopy which shades out native species. One plant produces many seeds which are dispersed by wind and water. It commonly invades open areas with moist disturbed soils, such as those in fields, along stream banks, roadsides, and ditches. It is much easier to control an invasive species if we can manage infestations when they are still small. So, please watch out for giant hogweed and report any infestations to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Weed Specialist at 1-800-206-9333.

Giant hogweed is a massive plant; it usually only lives for 2 years but it can grow to a height of 15’ and has enormous leaves and flower clusters. The large flat cluster, umbel, of small white flowers is reminiscent of Queen Anne’s Lace, but giant hogweed’s umbel is much larger, growing up to 2½’ in diameter.  It blooms in midsummer. Its leaves are compound and arranged alternately along the stem. Each leaf is made up of 3 deeply incised leaflets which can grow as large as 5’ wide. The leaflets near the top of the stem are less incised and not as large. The stems are ridged, hollow and have purple spots on them. Fine white hairs grow at the nodes in the stem. 

It is important to wear protective clothing and eyewear when handling this plant!

Fact Sheet: Giant Hogweed
Picture
Photo credit (left panel): Terry English, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org

Photo credit (rigth panel): Thomas B. Denholm, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org
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  • Home
  • About
    • Donate
    • Invasives 101
    • Membership
    • Board of Directors >
      • NC-IPC ByLaws
    • Contact
    • Listserve
  • News
    • Iverson Scholarship
    • Wildland Weeds Magazine
    • Calendar >
      • 2018 Workshop
  • NC Invasive Plants
    • Ailanthus Altissima (Tree-of-Heaven)
    • Elaeagnus umbellata (Autumn Olive)
    • Ficaria verna (Fig Buttercup)
    • Imperata cylindrica (Cogongrass)
    • Ligustrum sinense (Chinese Privet)
    • Ligustrum vulgare (Wild Privet)
    • Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle)
    • Microstegium vimineum (Japanese Stilt Grass)
    • Nandina domestica
    • Nymphoides indica (water snowflake)
    • Paulownia tomentosa (Princess Tree)
    • Persicaria perfoliata (Mile-A-Minute Vine)
    • Pueraria montana (Kudzu)
    • Pyrus calleryana (Bradford Pear)
  • Annual Symposiums
    • 2022 Joint Symposium >
      • 2022 Speaker Presentations
    • 2021 Virtual Conference
    • 2019 Joint Symposium >
      • 2019 Presentations
    • 2018 Annual Symposium
    • 2017 Annual Symposium
    • 2016 Annual Symposium >
      • 2016 agenda
    • 2015 Annual Symposium >
      • 2015 Presentations
      • 2015 Agenda
  • Projects
    • Fig Buttercup Project
    • Eno River Hydrilla Project
    • Awareness Week
  • Awards
    • 2015 Student Competition Winners
    • 2015 EIA Award
    • 2014 EIA Award