Giant hogweed mapped: How to identify and track deadly plant growing in the UK

Giant hogweed mapped: How to identify and track deadly plant growing in the UK

Leaves – the leaves are huge, and can measure up to 1.5m wide and 3m long, and are often divided into smaller leaflets. The Woodland Trust says they are alike to rhubarb leaves, with jagged edges and the underside of the leaf being hairy.

Flowers – the flowers of the giant hogweed appear in June and July, and are small and white. They appear in clusters on “umbrella-like heads” that face upwards.

Seeds – the seeds are dry, flat and oval. They are almost 1cm long and tan coloured with brown lines.

You can see the difference between giant hogweed and normal hogweed from the leaves.

Regular hogweed leaves are more round, in contrast with the jagged edges of the giant hogweed leaves.

Published at Wed, 13 May 2020 13:20:00 +0000