Plant identification - Ask Extension
Please help identify this plant. I was thinking poison hemlock but the stems are green, not purple. It looks like Queen Anne's Lace on steroids as i...
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Plant identification #757447
Asked June 21, 2021, 12:15 PM EDT
Please help identify this plant. I was thinking poison hemlock but the stems are green, not purple. It looks like Queen Anne's Lace on steroids as it is over 5 feet tall. If it is poison hemlock, how do I safely get rid of it. Thanks in advance.
Please excuse if this is an second request. I received not email to indicate that my prior attempt was successful.
Franklin County Ohio
Expert Response
Thank you for your question. Your plant does not seem to be poison hemlock. Poison hemlock seems to have smaller flowers. See https://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/noxious-weeds/weed-identification/poison-hemlock.aspx
Your plant looks like giant hogweed.
See https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/72766.html for pictures. This site also has some plants that look like giant hogweed and that get confused with it. It has detailed pictures that show the leaves, flowers, and stems of each plant that might be confused with giant hogweed.
Whether this plant is cow parsnip, wild parsnip, poison hemlock or giant hogweed, do not touch it! They are all toxic.
To get rid of it, see the following site, which offers several ways https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/40961.html
It seems like eradication is a long process. First step is to get rid of the seeds, so it doesn't self sow.
I wish you good luck!
Your plant looks like giant hogweed.
See https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/72766.html for pictures. This site also has some plants that look like giant hogweed and that get confused with it. It has detailed pictures that show the leaves, flowers, and stems of each plant that might be confused with giant hogweed.
Whether this plant is cow parsnip, wild parsnip, poison hemlock or giant hogweed, do not touch it! They are all toxic.
To get rid of it, see the following site, which offers several ways https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/40961.html
It seems like eradication is a long process. First step is to get rid of the seeds, so it doesn't self sow.
I wish you good luck!
Hello, I checked and the leaves on the plant in my backyard do not appear to be similar to the giant hogweed pictures that I found on line. I took a few more pictures in the hope that they will make identification possible. Thanks for all your help. I appreciate this service.
Sara Shriner
<personal data hidden>Sara Shriner
Hi again, I see from the new pictures that the leaves are different. Now it seems like the plant is Queen Ann's Lace
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/horticulture/hogweedlookalikes.shtml
This site has pictures. The poison hemlock has similar leaves, but the flowers seem different. Queen Ann's Lace has clusters that are closer together. The stem is clearly not poison hemlock.
I hope this is more helpful!
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/horticulture/hogweedlookalikes.shtml
This site has pictures. The poison hemlock has similar leaves, but the flowers seem different. Queen Ann's Lace has clusters that are closer together. The stem is clearly not poison hemlock.
I hope this is more helpful!
