Giant Hogweed
Posted Jul 25, 2010 06:29:00 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The region had declared it a noxious weed and it’s been spreading through the province, but how do you know if you have giant hogweed on your property?
It’s pretty hard to miss. Head of Science at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Dr. David Galbraith, tells 570’s Gary Doyle Show it can grow about five metres tall with leaves as long as a metre or two. He says the leaves are jagged and the base of the leaves and the stalk have some purple colouring. The leaves also have some prominent hairs on them. Giant hogweed grows for several years, before producing white flowers on its top.
Galbraith says it may look neat, but giant hogweed is not something you want growing in your garden. He says the sap can irritate and burn your skin, and it can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, making the burns even worse. He says if the sap gets on your hands and you rub your eyes, it can lead to blindness. If you find it in your yard, Galbraith says it should be removed by a professional.
The weed has some local, more pleasant, relatives. Galbraith says it’s in the carrot family and is a relative of a lot of plants we find useful, including the cow parsnip.
