Knowledgebase
Giant Hogweed or not? #574892
Asked June 28, 2019, 8:04 AM EDT
Midland County Michigan
Expert Response
Based on your photos this appears to be cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum) and not giant hogweed. Cow parsnip is a native perennial of Michigan that is very similar in appearance to the introduced giant hogweed. Cow parsnip is smaller, reaching a maximum height of eight feet. Unlike giant hogweed, the stem may be entirely green or have a slight purplish cast. Stems are deeply ridged, often hairy below the nodes and throughout, and no greater than two inches in diameter. Hairs on cow parsnip are fine – soft and fuzzy – rather than coarse like on giant hogweed.
The NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation has a good website to showing the differences side-by-side if you are interested http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/72766.html
If you plan to remove it
wear gloves. The sap in cow parsnip can cause a skin reaction on some
people. The sap in cow parsnip is internal so you have to break the plant
apart to get it on your skin. Giant hogweed wears droplets of its sap
externally on its coarse hairs so it is much easier to become exposed. Cow parsnip is very common in Michigan and most people just leave
it alone and don’t have any problems.
If you have any further questions please let me know.