How to Avoid Giant Hogweed, a Plant That Causes Severe Burns
Don’t touch this plant. If some of the juice gets on your skin, the chemicals in it will attack the DNA in your skin cells and make you sensitive to the sun. So sensitive, in fact, that normal sun exposure can cause blisters that resemble sunburns that disappear after weeks or months.
Fortunately, this is rare. If the photo above sounds familiar to you, it’s because there are many doubles on it – we’ll explain in a minute how to tell the difference. But first, here’s a map showing some (not all!) Of the places where the giant hogweed was spotted:
But this map is incomplete, missing several recent sightings, including one in Virginia. Giant Hogweed is listed as poisonous weeds in most states, and if you find it, you should notify the Ministry of Agriculture of its staff (or any other institution for invasive plants). The plant tends to occupy the habitat that the native wildflowers need and also causes terrible burns. They want everything to go the way you do.
Know what it looks like
The giant hogweed lives up to its name: it grows 10 to 15 feet in height. So if you’ve seen a miniature version of it in your backyard or by the side of the road, it’s probably Queen Anne’s Lace . Both of these plants belong to the same family as carrots, celery and parsley, and they all look alike.
The bovine parsnip is another member of the family that grows very tall (eight feet) and looks similar, but not as pungent. Here’s a guide to understand the difference . The bovine parsnip has flower clusters that are flat rather than umbrella-shaped, and it is not that big – its leaves are two feet wide, not five.
If you’re unsure, it’s best to follow Rule number one outdoors, which is, don’t touch it . (This rule will also protect you from poison ivy and poisonous animals.)
Relatives of the giant hogweed, including celery and carrots, produce small amounts of rash-causing chemicals (called fumarocoumarins), but not enough to worry if you only find them in your garden or grocery store. But if you make a living picking celery , you may end up with a mild version of this rash. Citrus also produces some, so juicing limes on the beach can cause a hospital-worthy margarita burn .
Know how it works
Giant hogweed sap won’t burn you instantly, so don’t think you’re safe just because you walked past the plant and you feel great.
The juice works by sensitizing your skin to the sun, so if you think you’ve touched a giant hogweed (or, again, if you’re unsure), here’s what you should do:
- Get out of the sun
- Wash the affected area with soap and cold water (heat may make it worse).
- Stay out of the sun. The first 48 hours are most important, but if you develop a rash, that part of your skin can remain sensitive for many years.
- If juice gets into your eyes, flush eyes with water and wear sunglasses.
These helpful tips are provided by the New York State Department of Conservation. They have great information on the giant hogweed because it is quite common in this state, but this information page starts with graphic pictures of the rash presented at a time interval so you can see how long it takes to heal. This is how it is .