Are you able to submit photos here for us to assess to see if we can confirm this is Giant Hogweed versus the several species that share similar flower or foliage traits? (Some of which might also cause skin reactions to sap.) We find it unlikely the plant has spread that extensively without the MD Dept. of Agriculture being aware of and working to eradicate the population, but grant you that the species has been detected in Garrett County at least once before. You can also reach out to your local county Extension office to ask if they have received reports of hogweed growing in the area. The MDA is the agency most likely to be spearheading efforts to remove the plant if it is present.

Miri

I was not aware there was Hogweed variety that was NOT INVASIVE. Whether it is or it is not, it still remains a threat and really poses a REAL THREAT to the dwarf trout Lilly as well as livestock & human contact.

We did not receive the attached photos, unfortunately. Can you please try again? If attachments aren't cooperating, you can try pasting the images directly into the body of your reply instead.

We didn't mean to imply that there are non-invasive Giant Hogweed varieties or that hogweed is not a threat; we were mentioning that there are multiple other species (most in the same carrot plant family) that closely resemble Giant Hogweed and as such are frequently confused for the plant since they're so similar. We'll take a look at your photos to see if we can determine which plant is pictured.

Miri

Sent from my iPhone



Thank you for the photos. These plants appear to be Cow Parsnip, a look-alike of Giant Hogweed which is native (actually somewhat rare, though not yet threatened in MD) and quite common (relatively speaking, within its range) in our westernmost counties like Garrett where the climate is cooler and the soils well-drained. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has a web page with some photo comparisons of this and other look-alike species with Giant Hogweed.

Cow Parsnip is reported to cause phytophotodermatitis (skin blistering after exposure to sap combined with exposure to UV light). Given that it is native and ranked as state-rare, we think it's unlikely any state agency will opt to remove it, or at least not large swaths of it. However, since Extension is not a regulatory agency, you would have to inquire with either your county government or municipality about whether they deem certain populations a threat to public health based on where they are growing (say, maybe close to a legal public fishing spot). To be fair, several other wild plants might cause skin rashes and sap exposure sensitivities, even if these plants were absent.

Plus, as part of the local ecosystem, they are probably not a major threat to populations of other wildflowers, especially compared to more serious and long-term threats like development and habitat degradation from invasive species and pollution. (For example, while not overwhelming these sites currently, the pink-blooming plants in the photos that appear to be Dame's Rocket are non-native and invasive.) There are no records of Dwarf Trout Lily (Erythronium propullans) in Maryland as it is a upper-midwestern species, but our two local natives, Yellow and White Trout Lily, go summer-dormant by the time the Cow Parsnip leaves would be shading them heavily so they are not out-competing them for sunlight.

If any Cow Parsnip is growing on private property where it's not wanted and poses a risk to personal safety, then it can probably be removed in the same fashion as when dealing with Poison Ivy for individuals highly sensitive to its sap. You could inquire with the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources - Wildlife Heritage Service to verify if the removal of this rare species is permitted based on conservation efforts for state-rare species. Any Cow Parsnip growing in livestock pastures can be addressed by means of the farmer contacting their county Extension office or Extension agriculture/livestock specialist.

Miri