Killer Weed

There’s a killer weed on the loose!

If you see a plant that looks like a huge Queen Ann’s Lace plant – Don’t touch it! It’s called Giant Hogweed – and its one nasty plant. Just touching this weed can cause blisters, burns and even blindness. Health officials in several states are on the hunt for hogweed now – trying to remove it. It spreads quickly and is already a problem on the east and west coasts – and has now been spotted in between.

Giant hogweed grows up to 15 feet high, with a purple-tinged thick stem and has sprays of white umbrella-like blossoms a foot wide when in bloom. They’re hard to kill. If you spot a crop – be sure to notify a public safety department. There have already been some terrible incidents with kids and these plants. They are naturally drawn to the large blooms and interesting stalks.

Source: NY State Department of Conservation