Poison hemlock
Toxic · do not eatSmooth, purple-blotched stems and a musty smell; deadly.
Extra care needed
Cow parsley.
Anthriscus sylvestris
Also found as Wild chervil · Queen Anne's lace (UK)
A spring hedgerow umbellifer with fern-like leaves and frothy white flower heads, easily confused with deadly relatives.
Sources checked 27 September 2026 · Specialist field review pending
Before any gathering or use
Poison hemlock and fool's parsley grow in the same hedges. Many experts recommend avoiding this plant entirely.
Where it grows
Tracked records and known growing zone
- Verified records
- 58,837
- People who recorded it
- 20,451
- Most records (northern hemisphere)
- Apr–Jun
- Records span
- 1981–2026
| January | 488 |
|---|---|
| February | 823 |
| March | 2410 |
| April | 15193 |
| May | 18859 |
| June | 12243 |
| July | 3079 |
| August | 1936 |
| September | 1310 |
| October | 1127 |
| November | 808 |
| December | 465 |
Research-grade iNaturalist records, snapshot Aug 27, 2026. The growing zone combines areas where different people have repeatedly verified it. Records show where people looked and found it, not current abundance or permission to gather.
01 / Learn to see
Field marks
- 01
Fern-like, finely divided leaves.
- 02
Hollow, grooved stems, hairy below, without purple blotches.
- 03
Frothy white umbels in spring.
These are study prompts, not a complete identification key. Confirm the full plant with a regional flora and an experienced local identifier.
02 / Resolve the differences
Look closely. Compare.
Hemlock water dropwort
Toxic · do not eatWet-ground umbellifer with celery-like leaves; deadly.
Selected comparisons only. Other lookalikes may occur locally.
03 / Meet the place
Habitat & season
Range context
Native to Europe and western Asia; introduced in North America.
Watch the plant stage
Leaves in early spring; flowers in spring.
Stage guidance is not a local forecast. Check your climate, elevation and a regional source; no month-shift formula is used here.
04 / Gather with care
Documented use & care
Parts discussed: Young leaf
Leaves are used like chervil by experienced foragers only.
Care for the patch
Abundant; leave flowering hedges for insects.
Preparation & storage essentials05 / Follow the evidence
Sources & review
- Wikipedia · Anthriscus sylvestrisBotanical description, range and documented use
- iNaturalist · Anthriscus sylvestrisTaxonomy and verified observation records
Checked 27 September 2026. Original editorial synthesis; source institutions have not reviewed or endorsed this guide. Independent botanical field review is pending. Photos illustrate specimens; they do not certify the identity of a plant you find.
Suggest a correction