Giant Hogweed

Scientific name: Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier

Common names: Giant hogweed, cartwheel-flower

Native To: Eurasia

Date of U.S. Introduction: 1917

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Video: Heracleum mantegazzianum, the Sequel (May 2009) (or click Play button below)
Video by John Robertson, Warden of The Poison Garden site.

Means of Introduction: Ornamental

Impact: Crowds out native species; produces toxic sap (causes skin irritation and blindness)

Current U.S. Distribution:

• National Agricultural Pest Information System - Pest Tracker - Reported Status
• PLANTS Database map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System

U.S. States and U.S. National Parks Where Reported Invasive: Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States map

Federally Regulated: Federal Noxious Weed (USDA, APHIS - Noxious Weeds Program)

Management Plans: Plants / Giant Hogweed

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Heracleum mantegazzianum
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier (Giant Hogweed) - Aquatic Plant Information System (APIS)
DOD. USACE. Engineer Research and Development Center. Environmental Laboratory.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Heracleum mantegazzianum Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Heracleum mantegazzianum - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Legal Aspects

Giant Hogweed Factsheet (Aug 2002; PDF | 104 KB)
USDA. APHIS. Plant Protection and Quarantine.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Giant Hogweed - Weed of the Week (Jun 20, 2005; PDF | 160 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area. Forest Health Protection.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Plant Profile for Heracleum mantegazzianum - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Giant Hogweed - Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas (2002)
DOI. National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Giant Hogweed - Pest Alert
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution

Giant Hogweed: An Invasive Species Causes Concern
Michigan Department of Agriculture.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls

Giant Hogweed
Oregon Department of Agriculture. Noxious Weed Control Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts

Giant Hogweed
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Plant Industry.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Giant Hogweed
Washington State Department of Ecology. Water Quality Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Class A Noxious Weed: Giant Hogweed
Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Legal Aspects

Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Distribution; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Control; Special Note: Scientific review and assessment (PDF | 65 KB)

Giant Hogweed - Invasive Plant Species of Alaska (PDF | 71 KB)
University of Alaska - Anchorage. Alaska Natural Heritage Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

Heracleum mantegazzianum (Giant hogweed, Giant cow parsnip) - Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE)
University of Connecticut. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Potential Health Alert - Giant Hogweed
Cornell University. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Controls

Giant Hogweed - Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution

The Infamous Giant Hogweed (Oct 2004; PDF | 450 KB)
Purdue University Extension. Weed Science.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

The Perils of Giant Hogweed - Gardening in Western Washington
Washington State University. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Controls

Giant Hogweed - Field Guide to Noxious and Other Selected Weeds of British Columbia
British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries (Canada).
Identification/Description; Photographs

Giant Hogweed Poisoning
Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility. Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Distribution; Special Note: References

Giant Alien
Giant Alien (Europe).
Photographs; Distribution; Controls; Legal Aspects; Special Note: References

Heracleum mantegazzianum - Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet (PDF | 590 KB)
North European and Baltic Network on Invasive Alien Species.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Giant Hogweed
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (Canada).
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution

Heracleum mantegazzianum (herb) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Giant Hogweed in Connecticut
Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Heracleum mantegazzianum
Discover Life.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Giant Hogweed
Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat

Giant Hogweed - BioBullies (Western Pennsylvania)
Natural Biodiversity.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Heracleum mantegazzianum
Pulling Together Initiative. Texasinvasives.org.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: References