Wild Carrot or Hemlock - Ask Extension
Please help us identify these plants that we got out of our garden area. We are located west of Forest Grove 5 miles in a timbered area.
Knowledgebase
Wild Carrot or Hemlock #798791
Asked June 30, 2022, 12:14 PM EDT
Please help us identify these plants that we got out of our garden area. We are located west of Forest Grove 5 miles in a timbered area.
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Mark- The plant in your first picture is most likely poison hemlock. I'm so glad she is wearing gloves! The purple stems are the key.
Notice the second picture has a different growth habit and no purple stems. It could be Queen Ann's Lace, wild carrot or another plant in the Apiaceae family. None of them should be eaten or handled without gloves, as many species are phototoxic. They can cause blisters or rash after people handle them and then expose their skin to the sun. My daughter developed baseball sized blisters after playing with this species and then running through the sprinkler one summer!
They ARE beautiful to look at, but handle with care.
Notice the second picture has a different growth habit and no purple stems. It could be Queen Ann's Lace, wild carrot or another plant in the Apiaceae family. None of them should be eaten or handled without gloves, as many species are phototoxic. They can cause blisters or rash after people handle them and then expose their skin to the sun. My daughter developed baseball sized blisters after playing with this species and then running through the sprinkler one summer!
They ARE beautiful to look at, but handle with care.
