2 weeks Ago By Alex Evans
An invasive weed which grows in people’s gardens and in woods, fields and countryside across Britain has been dubbed ‘Britain’s most dangerous plant’ - and people are being urged never to touch it. Giant hogweed is an invasive weed originating from Asia which was introduced to Britain in the 19th century and ran rampant in the wild. It can be found all over the UK, but particularly near river banks and water.
The plant is dangerous, and you should never touch it. In fact, even just brushing the plant with your arm or leg could leave you with blisters that can last for years. Garden and pest website Eco Control says: “Experts call giant hogweed Britain's most dangerous plant, due to the damage it causes to a human's health when touched.
“The sap from the plant causes painful blisters which can appear 24 to 48 hours from contact. Blistering can then recur over months and even years, in some cases people have sought medical attention for an extensive period.” This is backed by The Woodland Trust, which says: “Is giant hogweed dangerous? In short - the sap of giant hogweed can cause burns.
It contains furocoumarin, which makes skin extremely sensitive to sunlight. “If the sap gets onto your skin and it's then exposed to the sun, your skin can blister badly. Blistering can then recur over months and even years.
This is known as phytotoxicity. “The best way to avoid injury is to familiarise yourself with the plant and avoid contact with your skin. Brushing through patches of giant hogweed and exposing yourself to plants that have been cut might cause you to get sap on your skin.
” Giant hogweed looks like an enormous cow parsley plant. When fully grown, it can reach heights of one to two metres. The Woodland Trust says its stems are green and often have purple blotches, with stiff white hairs.
The leaves look a bit like rhubarb, while the flowers, which appear in June and July, are small and white and clustered in umbrella-like heads known as umbels. What’s more, it's illegal to plant and you must remove it if you find it in your garden . The best time of year to get rid is now, in the spring, before it can flower and set seed, spreading itself further.
The Trust adds: “It is illegal to plant or deliberately allow giant hogweed to spread in the UK. At a garden scale, individual plants can be removed by hand but this must be done in full protective clothing due to the danger posed by the sap. The best way to get rid of giant hogweed is to dig out the whole plant in spring before it flowers and sets seed.
Since giant hogweed material is classed as ‘controlled waste’, it must be disposed of at a licensed landfill site.”.
