Other wetland umbels
Several edible-looking wetland plants resemble Cicuta. Habitat and one vein feature are insufficient.
Use the botanical sourceToxic · do not eat
Spotted water hemlock.
Cicuta maculata
Also found as Water hemlock
A highly poisonous North American wetland plant; other Cicuta species are also dangerous.
Sources checked 9 September 2026 · Specialist field review pending
Toxic. Keep out of food and tea.
Poison help All parts are toxic and ingestion can be fatal. Seek urgent poison-service advice.
Where it grows
Tracked records and known growing zone
- Verified records
- 7,091
- People who recorded it
- 3,397
- Most records (northern hemisphere)
- Jun–Jul
- Records span
- 1977–2026
| January | 28 |
|---|---|
| February | 27 |
| March | 58 |
| April | 358 |
| May | 732 |
| June | 1653 |
| July | 2724 |
| August | 1033 |
| September | 332 |
| October | 99 |
| November | 25 |
| December | 22 |
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
Compound leaves with narrow, sharply toothed leaflets.
- 02
Leaflet veins commonly end in notches between the teeth.
- 03
White compound umbels and hollow, sometimes purple-marked stems.
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.
Fennel
Extra care neededAn aromatic herb name cannot rule out a poisonous umbellifer.
Selected comparisons only. Other lookalikes may occur locally.
03 / Meet the place
Habitat & season
Range context
North America; this profile does not cover all regional water hemlocks.
Watch the plant stage
Dangerous throughout its life cycle; a nonflowering plant is still hazardous.
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 or collect. Do not dig roots or cut stems to attempt identification.
Care for the patch
Observe and photograph from a safe position; protect wetland soils.
Preparation & storage essentials05 / Follow the evidence
Sources & review
- NC State Extension · Cicuta maculataBotanical description, range and documented use
Checked 9 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