You’ve Heard Of Poison Ivy, But What About Poison Hemlock? Here’s How To Identify This Highly Hazardous Plant In Your Yard And Eradicate It From Your Property
Poison hemlock is a highly poisonous plant to both humans and animals. It was introduced to the United States from Europe in the 1800s. Over time, poison hemlock has become widespread in almost every state. It grows along roadsides, fences, vacant lots, and open fields where livestock graze. The toxic plant can also find its way into your yard.
Poison hemlock has several look-alikes. Keep reading to learn how to identify it among the other weeds growing in your yard and get rid of it safely.
How To Identify Poison Hemlock
The hemlock plant typically grows in the spring, but its bloom time can vary each year, depending on the weather conditions. Between May and August, clusters of white flowers appear on the top of the stalks. Each flower consists of five petals.
Hemlock also has a stem with purple spots. The leaves are dark green, fern-like, and finely divided. When crushed, it gives off a strong, musty odor. It can grow up to nine feet tall, with the leaves reaching a length of two feet.
Hemlock Poisoning Symptoms
All parts of the weed—seeds, stems, leaves, flowers, and roots—contain toxic alkaloids that can be fatal if ingested, even in small amounts. Even touching the plant can cause a severe skin reaction.
The symptoms of hemlock poisoning can appear thirty minutes to an hour after ingesting the plant. Common symptoms include muscle pain/weakness, convulsions, trembling, and burning in the digestive tract. In more severe cases, hemlock poisoning may cause respiratory failure and death.
If you experience any of these symptoms after touching or tasting a poison hemlock plant, medical attention should be sought immediately.
Lev – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
Similar Plants To Poison Hemlock
There are many plants out there that look just like poison hemlock, but once you know how to spot the telltale features, you can rule them out as being hemlock. Some of these plants include elderberry, Queen Anne’s lace, and wild parsnip.
Elderberry has white flowers, but they’re larger than the ones found on hemlock. Their woody stems also do not have any purple spots.
The white flower heads and lacy leaves of Queen Anne’s lace are often mistaken for poison hemlock. However, the stem of Queen Anne’s lace is hairy and free from purple specks.
The roots of wild parsnip can easily be confused with hemlock. Wild parsnip can be distinguished by its yellow flowers and leaves that resemble celery.
How To Get Rid Of Poison Hemlock
Once you’ve determined that poison hemlock is in your area, it’s best to remove it. Experts recommend digging small patches of them out at a time, making sure to remove the roots.
You can also use herbicides to eradicate hemlock plants. Apply the herbicide in the fall or early spring before the hemlock has a chance to mature.
Wear protective clothing to avoid contact with the plant. After removing the plants, place them in plastic trash bags to prevent further contamination.
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