Giant Hogweed was introduced into the US as an ornamental plant. In general, root-cutting is used at smaller sites with less than 400 plants, herbicide is used at larger sites with greater than 400 plants and flower/seed head removal is used at all sites to limit seed dispersal. Whether that’s by picking up litter or reporting Giant Hogweed sightings, we believe that this is the right thing to do and urge others to do similar. Where did it come from? Yes, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE LEAVES. Photograph: Photos are needed to confirm identification. - Required, DO YOU OWN THE LAND? Examples below: Report: Email DEC or call the Giant Hogweed Information Line: 845-256-3111. If you have giant hogweed on your property, it is recommended that you hire a professional exterminator to remove it. Date Format: MM slash DD slash YYYY. It prefers open sites with abundant light and moist soil but it can grow in partially shaded habitats, too. Brushing against or breaking the plant releases sap that, combined with sunlight and moisture, can cause a severe burn within 24 to 48 hours. shape, color, etc. Growth habit: Giant hogweed grows 10-20 feet tall and has deeply lobed leaves up to 5 feet wide. The plant will be removed safely and as few seeds as possible will be spread. Why is it invasive? If you think you have giant hogweed on your property, do NOT touch it. Report invasive non-native plants on the council owned land that need control. Sites are visited each year until the plants are eradicated. The skin becomes sensitive to sunlight and may blister when exposed. (width, color, As of 2018, it has been found and controlled in several Maryland counties. ), PLEASE DESCRIBE THE STEM OR STALK. Giant hogweed; Himalayan balsam; Rhododendron ponticum; New Zealand pigmyweed (this is banned from sale) You do not have to remove these plants or control them on your land. Its sap can cause a severe skin reaction known as photo-dermatitis or photo-sensitivity and damage to the eyes. Please avoid coming into direct contact with the plant when photographing plants or examining a site. texture), IF THE STEM HAS HAIRS, ARE THEY FINE OR COARSE? Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a VERY LARGE, invasive plant that can cause painful burns and permanent scarring. Giant hogweed ( Heracleum mantegazzianum ) is a close relative of cow parsley originally from Southern Russia and Georgia. This is free of charge to the landowner. Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a biennial plant in the carrot family (Apiaceae). A list of towns/cities with known populations of giant hogweed can be found here. Reports will be followed up by a Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources official, and you may be contacted for a site visit if we feel further investigation is necessary. Take high resolution photos of the entire plant, stem, leaves, flowers and seeds, making sure to keep a safe distance. Its hollow, ridged stems grow 2-4 inches in diameter and have dark reddish-purple blotches. For crews to use herbicide control, landowners must first sign a property permission form. Its sap can cause a severe skin reaction known as photo-dermatitis or photo-sensitivity and damage to the eyes. This plant poses a serious health threat; see your physician if you think you have been burned by giant hogweed. It is an herbaceous biennial or monocarpic perennial that grows as a low-lying bushy rosette for at least the first year. Is the population near a road, hiking trail, picnic area or other frequently used area? Large infestations may need to be controlled with the use of a herbicide such as glyphosate, since Giant Hogweed is a human healt… Public and private landowners are required to control this plant when it occurs on their land. (size, County. It's only after three to five years when the plant gains enough energy from its roots that it rockets in growth and begins to produce early-summer white flowers one to two feet across, as well as five-foot-wide lobed, jagged leaves. Please refer to the Giant Hogweed Identification page for further help. Giant Hogweed Report Use this form to report a possible giant hogweed sighting in Massachusetts. • Giant hogweed is listed under schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) - Poisonous Invader of the Northeast. If you encounter a plant that resembles giant hogweed in your backyard, the first step is to verify it. Observer Name * Email * Phone (required if no email address is provided) Date Observed. Giant hogweed is considered invasive and spreads rapidly. Use this form to report a possible giant hogweed sighting in Massachusetts. Reports will be followed up by a Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources official, and you may be contacted for a site visit if we feel further investigation is necessary. Report Giant Hogweed sighting. Giant hogweed grows along streams and rivers and in fields, forests, yards and roadsides. Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) Photo by Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, Creative Commons. Town Observed. To report a Giant Hogweed sighting, we recommend that you first visit the CIPWG website and compare your suspect plant with the photos and descriptions provided. (This form is for Massachusetts hogweed sightings only. Some other plants look very similar. a biennial or perennial herb in the carrot family (Apiaceae) which can grow to 14 feet or more. Giant hogweed seed can remain dormant in the soil for years, It is critical to monitor infested sites often to control any new plants that appear. It was introduced to Britain as an ornamental plant in the 19th century, and has also spread to other areas in Western Europe, the United States, and Canada. Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is an umbellifer (member of the cow-parsley family), and its flowering stems are typically 2-3 m in height bearing flower heads up to 80cm across. Giant hogweed can cause ocular (eye) burns which can lead to blindness. Distribute giant hogweed brochures and hang the giant hogweed poster where people will see it (e.g. The best time to remove the plant is in late April or early May. Email DEC or call the Giant Hogweed Information Line at 845-256-3111 to let us know how many brochures and posters you can use. About a decade ago, several sites were eradicated and close monitoring shows no return so far. Giant hogweed is found in moist, sunny areas such as streams, rivers, fields, forests, yards and roadsides. For a site to be visited and controlled, landowners must give annual permission. Report a Giant Hogweed problem We deal with Giant Hogweed problems on both private land and public land we own (e.g. Before submitting a report, please review this table of giant hogweed look-alikes. This section of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Invasive Species Program website describes the history and distribution of Giant Hogweed in New York State, its biology and habitat, health and ecological impacts, control measures, and additional references. Although this striking plant can be attractive in certain situations, most gardeners will want to eradicate it, as it is potentially invasive and the sap can cause severe skin burns. Colonies of giant hogweed can crowd out native vegetation. To report a Giant Hogweed sighting, we recommend that you first visit the CIPWG website and compare your suspect plant with the photos and descriptions provided. From late April through August, DEC field crews visit each confirmed giant hogweed site, and use the appropriate control method. Giant hogweed is a very impressive plant reaching heights of over 6 feet with leaves over 3 feet long and a huge flower head — up to 20 inches in diameter. Its large compound leaves can grow up to 5 feet wide. Its close relatives, Sosnowsky's hogweed and Persian hogweed, have similarly spread to other parts of Europe. WARNING: The sap of this plant causes chemical burns when activated by the sun. It is usually less than 30 cen… It can reach over 3m (10ft) in height. (This form is for Massachusetts hogweed sightings only. Control of giant hogweed is the responsibility of the property owner. Giant hogweed is an invasive species. Giant hogweed reaches up to 8-20’ when in flower and has hollow, ridged stems covered in coarse white hairs and reddish-purple mottling. Reducing a large population of Giant hogweed will take a long term commitment. Other names: Giant Hogweed, Giant Cow Parsley (Not Cow Parsnip), Cartweel-Flower, Heracleum mantegazzianum. Since its introduction to British Columbia, it has escaped cultivation and is rapidly spreading throughout Vancouver Island, … In 2020, it has been reported in 16 states: Alaska, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.Most of these states only have a handful of counties that have reported giant hogweed sightings, but each … If you wish to attempt control yourself please refer to the Best Management Practicesand take precautions to protect yourself from the sap. Its white flower heads can grow up to 2 1/2 feet in diameter. Burns can lead to changes in skin pigmentation and permanent scarring. Controlling giant hogweed takes persistence and repeated application of control measures. Fine  Local Concern: Giant hogweed has the potential to harm humans. Nearest Road Intersection (street names or highway numbers): Land Ownership. Other plants that look similar are also shown. While you may have heard about giant hogweed in the news recently, there are currently no known locations of it in New Hampshire. It is native to Eastern Europe, but escaped cultivation and has now naturalized in areas with rich moist soils (vacant lots, uncultivated or waste areas, riverbanks, along roadways, and in agricultural lands). Immediately wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and keep the area away from sunlight for 48 hours. But the sap of this plant contains chemicals that can cause SEVERE skin rashes. Giant hogweed is native to the western Caucasus region of Eurasia. Giant hogweed is an invasive perennial herb from the carrot family (Apiaceae). The lower leaves are often 1m more in size and distinctively spiky. Even minor contact with this plant can cause SEVERE BURNS. The Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project is a collaboration between the Massachusetts Dept. Control of Giant Hogweed (and any invasive species) is up to the property owner. Giant hogweed is a biennial or perennial herb in the carrot family (Apiaceae) which can grow to 14 feet or more. Giant hogweed is on the federal noxious weeds list. nearest intersection) It was introduced to Europe and the United Kingdom in the late nineteenth century and to the United States in the early twentieth century as an ornamental garden plant. Provide your mailing address so we can mail them to you. Symptoms are usually noticeable within 24 hours and include blistering and swelling on … of Agricultural Resources and the UMass Extension Agriculture and Landscape Program. If you are a property owner with Giant Hogweed on your property you can contact a weed control specialist (look in the yellow pages) for assistance controlling. Giant hogweed is a native of the Caucasus Mountain region between the Black and Caspian Seas. It may not necessarily express APHIS' views. It has become established in New England, the Mid-Atlantic Region and the Northwest. Giant hogweed contains a sap which irritates skin when it is exposed to sunlight. This species is also on the Washington quarantine list (known as the prohibited plants list) and it is prohibited to transport, buy, sell, offer for sale, or to distribute plants or plant parts, s… When no more plants are found the site will be monitored for three subsequent years. The skin becomes sensitive to sunlight and may blister when exposed. To report hogweed outside of Massachusetts, contact your local department of agriculture or plant regulatory official.). LOCATION OF PLANT(S): (include street address, or It is an offence to plant or cause this species to grow in the wild. Please refer to our Health Hazards & Safety Instructions for Giant Hogweed for more information. If you suspect you may have found giant hogweed you should take photos, note the location, and report the site to NYS DEC via Email, or at the Giant Hogweed Information Line: 1-845-256-3111. • The plant material is also classified as ‘controlled waste’ under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. • Giant hogweed was … These plants were brought from Caucasus Mountain region in the early 1900s to be used as a garden plant in New York. Giant hogweed doesn't grow to 14 feet overnight; the seedlings and saplings start out much smaller. This website was made possible, in part, by a Cooperative Agreement from the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). It was likely introduced to British Columbia, from Asia, as an ornamental plant. edges, texture), PLEASE DESCRIBE THE FLOWERS OR SEED HEAD, IF ANY. Identify: Use the key on our giant hogweed identification page to try and make a positive identification. (size, shape, color, ... New report … Giant Hogweed is classified as an invasive species it is therefore the responsibility of the land owner to prevent the plant spreading to neighbouring land (or into the wild), and removal of plant must be conducted with due care and attention. This includes Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam. Report giant hogweed, Nature Conservancy urges about toxic species. Local Concern: Giant hogweed has the potential to harm humans. town hall, post office, schools and library). You Can Thank Gretchen Weiners For Mindy’s Big Emily In Paris Twist Experts have warned the UK is losing the battle to eradicate giant hogweed, … Giant hogweed is a Federally listed noxious weed and NYS law prohibits its possession with the intent to sell, import, purchase, transport, introduce or propagate. The plant is part of … Provide photos, detailed directions to the plant infestation (GPS coordinates and street address a plus) and estimate the number of plants. Photo: Leslie J. 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