Common hogweed
Heracleum sphondylium is smaller, with softer hairs; its sap can also burn.
Use the botanical sourceToxic · do not eat
Giant hogweed.
Heracleum mantegazzianum
A towering umbellifer up to five meters tall whose sap causes severe, blistering burns in sunlight.
Sources checked 27 September 2026 · Specialist field review pending
Toxic. Keep out of food and tea.
Poison help Sap on skin plus sunlight causes severe burns and long-lasting scars. Wash skin immediately, cover it from sun, and seek medical advice. Keep children and pets away.
Where it grows
Tracked records and known growing zone
- Verified records
- 25,425
- People who recorded it
- 5,252
- Most records (northern hemisphere)
- May–Jul
- Records span
- 1984–2026
| January | 123 |
|---|---|
| February | 211 |
| March | 368 |
| April | 2280 |
| May | 4993 |
| June | 6368 |
| July | 5067 |
| August | 2839 |
| September | 1643 |
| October | 800 |
| November | 473 |
| December | 85 |
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
Huge, deeply lobed leaves up to 1.5 meters or more.
- 02
Thick, hollow stems with purple blotches and stiff bristles.
- 03
White umbels up to 80 centimeters across.
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.
Cow parsley
Extra care neededMuch smaller with fern-like leaves.
Selected comparisons only. Other lookalikes may occur locally.
03 / Meet the place
Habitat & season
Range context
Native to the Caucasus; invasive across Europe and parts of North America.
Watch the plant stage
Hazard exists at every growth stage.
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
Observe. Leave intact.
Do not eat, brew, taste or collect for the pantry.
Care for the patch
Report plants to local authorities; removal requires protective equipment.
Preparation & storage essentials05 / Follow the evidence
Sources & review
- Wikipedia · Heracleum mantegazzianumBotanical description, range and documented use
- iNaturalist · Heracleum mantegazzianumTaxonomy 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