Giant Hogweed Concerns
go.ncsu.edu/readext?535392
en Español
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.
Collapse ▲
(Photo: Corey Childs, Warren County Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech)
Giant hogweed has been causing somewhat of a stir in the news lately. Since Virginia Tech confirmed a number of plants at a residence in Clarke County, VA, some Lincoln County residents have been alarmed to find plants that resembled the giant hogweed plants they have seen in news photos. Fortunately, these local plants have turned out to be smaller, common, safer plants, known as Queen Anne’s lace.
Though a number of plants have forms/flowers similar to giant hogweed, knowing the scale of giant hogweed plants may help with identification, and ease unnecessary fears in the case of a misidentification. Giant hogweed can exceed 6 feet in height, with reports reaching 14 feet, with more than 3 foot long leaves and a huge flower head, up to 20 inches in diameter! This alone distinguishes it from a number of impostors.
Giant hogweed does exist in NC, but thankfully there are only a few known infestations, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture is working to eradicate those populations. It is good that this effort is underway. Giant hogweed is an invasive plant, and is indeed a concern.
The sap of the giant hogweed, in combination with moisture and sunlight, can cause severe skin and eye irritation, painful blistering, permanent scarring and blindness. By simply brushing against the bristles on the stem or by breaking open the stem or leaves, it is possible to have significant contact with the sap.
If you think you have spotted giant hogweed in Lincoln County, you can send photographs to tom_dyson@ncsu.edu. I would be glad to take a look. Be sure to include clear photos of leaves, stems, and flowers, with an indication of scale (something in the photo of identifiable size for comparison).