Not every plant in your yard is safe. One of the most dangerous out there is the giant hogweed.
At first it doesn’t look threatening. It’s tall, sometimes goes up to 20 feet, with big umbrella-shaped bunches of little white flowers. It’s actually pretty enough, but the sap inside is toxic. It sticks to your skin’s DNA, and when sunlight hits it (ultraviolet light) your skin can break out in burns and blisters. The marks can scar and the skin might stay sensitive to sunlight for years. If sap gets in your eyes, you could even lose your sight.
That’s why the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation keeps warning people not to touch it. New York has the worst cases, but it’s not alone. This plant is spreading in Washington, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont, and Oregon.
If you get it on your skin, Poison Control says wash right away with soap and water, and stay out of the sun for 48 hours.
How to spot the giant hogweed
Giant hogweed can be mistaken for harmless wildflowers. Here’s how you know it’s the bad one:
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It’s way taller than you—up to 20 feet.
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It has big, flat clusters of white flowers shaped like umbrellas.
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The stem is green but covered with purple blotches and coarse white hairs.
It grows along streams, roadsides, fields, and even backyards. To help people tell it apart, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation made posters with clear pictures.
Why this plant spreads so fast
The plant didn’t sneak into the U.S. on its own. People actually brought it here in the early 1900s as a garden decoration. It looked exotic, so garden shops sold.
Maybe, at that time, it wasn’t considered that dangerous. But now it’s a huge problem because a single plant can drop up to 100,000 seeds, and those seeds survive in the dirt for years. Even when towns remove it, it often comes back.
The worst outbreaks are in New York, but it’s also common in Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont, Michigan, Washington, and Oregon.
That’s why officials say: don’t try to pull it up yourself. Report it, and let trained crews deal with it.
What to do if you touch it
If you brush against giant hogweed, don’t wait until your skin starts reacting. Do this right away, following Poison Control guidance:
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Wash with soap and cool water.
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Stay completely out of the sun for at least 48 hours—even a little ultraviolet light can set off burns.
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Put hydrocortisone cream on the area if it’s irritated.
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If sap gets in your eyes, rinse them with water for 15 minutes and wear sunglasses for a couple of days.
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If things get worse, call a doctor.
And if you spot giant hogweed in your yard, don’t go at it with a shovel. Local crews have protective gear and know how to handle it safely.
Be aware of the risks and report it
There are many plants that can be poisonous and live around us all the time, so don’t panic, just be aware of their existence so that you can avoid any problems. If you know what it looks like, you will be able to recognize it in a sec. And if you come across one, don’t wait: notify the experts and stay away from it.
The giant hogweed is not just another wildflower. Its sap damages DNA, reacts with sunlight, and leaves painful burns that can stick with you for years.
For more information about this or other risky plant have a look at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.