ExplorePlants

hogweed

Heracleum sphondylium

Hogweed is a tall plant with big, white flowers that look like umbrellas! It grows in fields and along roadsides, making it easy to spot in nature.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The hogweed has stout, often reddish-purple stems and large, deeply lobed leaves resembling a hand. Its flowers form striking flat-topped clusters of small white or pinkish-white blossoms, resembling an umbrella. It can grow much taller than a person.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderApialesFamilyApiaceaeGenusHeracleum
hogweed
flowering trait badgebiennial trait badgecluster_flower trait badgeedible trait badge
hogweed

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

3/5 · Moderate

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Even ancient Romans recorded using hogweed as a food source and herbal remedy.

Hogweed can produce thousands of seeds from just one plant, ensuring it pops up everywhere!

Its name "hogweed" comes from pigs, who love to eat its tasty roots and leaves!

The plant’s thick, hollow stems were sometimes used to make simple flutes by kids long ago!

Special abilities

Ability

Sun Shield

Hogweed sap contains chemicals that make skin extra sensitive to sunlight, causing a rash. This helps it deter hungry animals.

Ability

Seed Sprinter

This plant produces thousands of flat, oval seeds that are easily carried by wind or water, helping it spread quickly.

Ability

Reach for the Sky

Hogweed grows very tall very fast, helping it grab more sunlight than shorter plants around it.

Measurements & details

Height
50-200 cm
Spread
30-100 cm
Flower Size
10-20 cm
Bloom Season
Summer
Edible
No
Toxicity
Mild
Lifecycle
Biennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

honey bee

Apis mellifera

Vital for spreading pollen between hogweed plants.

pollinates

Red Admiral butterfly

Vanessa atalanta

Feeds on nectar, helping to pollinate.

eaten by

hogweed moth

Agonopterix heracleana

Its caterpillars feed on hogweed leaves and seeds.

eats

Roe Deer

Capreolus capreolus

Deer occasionally browse on hogweed foliage.

Traits

Also known as

Cow Parsnip

Collections

Safety

Danger

3/5 · Moderate

Be careful not to touch hogweed, as its sap can cause skin irritation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is hogweed?

50-200 cm

How wide does hogweed spread?

30-100 cm

How big are the flowers on hogweed?

10-20 cm

When does hogweed bloom?

Summer

Is hogweed edible?

No

Is hogweed toxic?

Mild

What is hogweed's lifecycle?

Biennial

How is hogweed pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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