Not your gardener’s delight: Weeds that cause harm

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Published Date 8/14/2024

Believe it or not, there has been more than one movie made about plants that eat people. The 1960 horror farce The Little Shop of Horrors was about a florist's assistant who cultivates a plant that feeds on human blood. And while those giant pods in the flick Invasion of the Body Snatchers didn’t exactly eat people, they were scary enough just making them into unwilling zombies who bore no trace of the kind of humanity they once possessed.

Realtor.com’s Jule Gerstein writes about how some seeming fictions are actually true, such as a seemingly innocuous green plant commonly found in backyards and parks can burn and scar skin by altering your DNA. “What sounds like science fiction is actually the unpleasant-sounding giant hogweed,” she says. “The pretty plant with flowers is, in fact, a massive invasive species that can cause major damage and is creating cause for concern across the U.S.”

She tells of how the British originally brought giant hogweed to the States through the United Kingdom in the 1800s. They first imported the large plants from the Caucasus Mountains in Eurasia to their home turf, admiring their immensity. Giant hogweed can grow up to 14 feet tall, with its leaves sometimes measuring 5.5 feet in diameter. The monster plant’s white flower clusters can grow up to 2.5 feet in diameter, making it a delightful view.

But once this spiky plant arrived on our shores, it stopped being decorative and began to take over in Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as areas of Canada. “Each plant produces around 50,0000 seeds, and because it tends to cluster around rivers and streams, the seeds spread easily,” says Gerstein.

How do you recognize it? And what do you need to know about this harmful plant that may be hiding in plain sight right outside your back door?

First, the dangers of hogweed: The clear, watery sap from giant hogweed contains a toxin called furanocoumarin, which is activated by sunlight and creates a skin irritation called phytophotodermatitis. “The condition often results in painful and unsightly blistering and burning, which can be further inflamed by heat and moisture,” says Gerstein. “Sometimes, the blisters won’t show for a few days after exposure, but they can have long-lasting scars. Scarring from giant hogweed sap has been known to last as long as six years.” It's just as unsafe for pets, known to cause blindness in dogs whose eyes are exposed to the sap.

First things first: Try to get rid of giant hogweed in your yard very carefully using glyphosate cleaners such as Roundup, KleenUp, and Killzall — all of which can effectively kill hogweed. Non-chemical options like carefully digging the plant up or mowing it can help, but whatever you do, avoid touching it. “The potential reaction is severe enough that members of New York’s Giant Hogweed Control Program go out in full hazmat suits and masks when clearing the plants,” says Gerstein.

If you do come in contact with this contentious plant, the New York State Department of Health advises that you immediately wash the affected body part with soap and water and avoid touching your eyes. Applying sunscreen to the affected area might also help ease the pain of the burn. Experts suggest that you also stay out of the sunlight for a few days, even after you treat the area. Just be aware that the sap can linger on your clothing, so if you come in contact with it, you should wash your clothes as soon as possible.

How bad can the burns get? Gerstein cites the 2018 story of a Richmond, VA, teenager coming into contact with giant hogweed who suffered third-degree burns. The young man encountered hogweed while working a landscaping job. His father told the local press that “the skin on his face was basically peeling away and peeling off” and so severe that Childress was considering postponing attending college.

Just this past summer, a 9-year-old boy in the U.K., came in contact with hogweed while playing soccer in a park. Three days later, his skin began blistering.

Gerstein urges you to immediately report sightings of hogweed to your state’s Department of Health. There is also a toll-free Giant Hogweed Hotline for reporting sightings.

Environmental concerns are also at play with this horrible plant. Aside from the human consequences of giant hogweed, the plant can grow so large that it blocks sunlight from other plants and causes soil erosion. Gerstein reports that the New York’s Bureau of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health runs a program to increase awareness and clear the plant and in the past year alone has cleared 1,765 properties, or 61% of the state’s known giant hogweed sites.

Realtor, TBWS

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