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photo by Kristine Schaefer
Description
Wild Parsnip is a biennial plant that forms a vegetative rosette the first year, and then bolts during the second year of growth into a conspicuous upright plant that may reach 4 feet or more in height by early July. In late June to early July of the second year, yellow flowers 4-8” in diameter appear on the upper portion of the plant. Flowers appear similar to Queen Anne’s Lace (wild carrot). Plants usually turn to brown stalks by late summer, but green rosettes can be seen at ground level until fall.
Habitat
Wild parsnip is rapidly invading sunny roadside areas and old fields, presenting significant risk to mowing operations.
Wild Parsnip rosette