
Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier (ITIS)
Giant hogweed, cartwheel-flower
Caucasus Mountains (Gucker 2009)
1917 (Gucker 2009)
Ornamental (Gucker 2009)
Produces toxic sap that can cause skin irritation and blindness (Gucker 2009)
Spotlights
Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech researchers who helped identify the dangerous Giant Hogweed plants in Clarke County, Virginia, want residents to stay on the lookout for the plant with toxic sap that can cause severe burns — but also stressed that the weeds are believed to have been planted intentionally decades ago and haven’t spread in the years since. Anyone who suspects they have found Giant Hogweed should take photos, check online to compare the plant to giant hogweed photos, and then contact a Virginia Cooperative Extension agent.
Distribution / Maps / Survey Status
Federally Regulated
Includes species listed as a Federal Noxious Weed under the Plant Protection Act, which makes it illegal in the U.S. to import or transport between States without a permit.
Images
Videos
Google. YouTube; University of Maryland Extension. Home and Garden Information Center.
Selected Resources
The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source. Or, to display all related content view all resources for Giant Hogweed.
Council or Task Force
Partnership
USDA. APHIS. PPQ. Center for Plant Health Science and Technology; California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Centre for Invasive Species Solutions; Atlas of Living Australia; Australian Government. Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Federal Government
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program. GRIN-Global.
International Government
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (Canada).
State and Local Government
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
See also: Invasive Plant Fact Sheets for plant species (trees, shrubs, vines, herbs and aquatic plants) that have impacted the state's natural lands
Academic
Virginia Tech; Virginia State University. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Citations
Gucker, C.L. 2009. Heracleum mantegazzianum. In: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Heracleum mantegazzianum. [Accessed Mar 19, 2015].