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Description
Giant Hogweed usually reaches head height by late-June unless it has been previously mowed. Thick stems are marked with dark purplish blotches and raised bumps. Leaf stalks are spotted, hollow, and covered with sturdy bristles (most prominent at the base of the stalk). Stems are also covered with bristles but not as prominently as the leaf stalks. The very large leaves are compound, lobed, and deeply indented, and can be several feet in width. Numerous white flowers form a flat-topped, umbrella-shaped head that can be a foot or more in diameter
Allergic reaction caused by Giant Hogweed
Habitat
Giant Hogweed is often found in wet areas along streams and rivers, on waste ground, near houses, in vacant lots, and along railways and roads. It prefers moist soil and can quickly dominate ravines and stream banks, spreading by seed.