The many warnings about the dangerous giant hogweed are fatal to various natural beauties because they look similar to the poisonous plant and are rigorously destroyed. Other floral twins even top the endangerment of an Hercules perennial. This guide will inform you about threatening and harmless plants that look confusingly similar to Bear's Claw.

The spotted hemlock looks very similar to the hogweed and is poisonous

Doppelganger with Killer Qualities - Spotted hemlock harbors deadly poison

The health effects after contact with giant hogweed are harmless compared to a highly toxic double. Spotted hemlock (Conium maculatum) is riddled with a poison that can kill even in tiny amounts. To this day, the term hemlock is synonymous with death and doom because the poisonous plant was used for executions in ancient times. The best-known victim was the philosopher Socrates in 399 BC. The high likelihood of confusion between giant hogweed and spotted hemlock is based on the following similarities:

  • Both plants belong to the umbelliferae
  • Growth height from 80 to 300 cm
  • Flowering time of the white, radial umbel flowers from June
  • Hollow stem with red spots or suffused with red
  • Large, green, pinnate leaves

Since contact with giant hogweed is not fatal but can cause skin burns, we recommend rigorous removal of both plants from the garden. Put on protective clothing, eye protection and boots and completely destroy all plant debris.

Dog parsley at eye level with hemlock

Dog parsley (Aethusa cynapium) is also difficult to distinguish from giant hogweed. In terms of poison content, the dreaded weed is certainly on par with spotted hemlock. However, the risk of confusion with kitchen parsley is much greater.

Harmless floral counterparts abound - don't panic

Don't let the numerous warnings about giant hogweed and its poisonous counterparts unsettle you. In fact, the vast majority of similar plants are perfectly safe and important for ecological balance. The following overview lists non-toxic plants that look deceptively similar to Bear Claw:

  • Angelica (Angelica sylvestris), a traditional medicinal plant
  • Wild carrot (Daucus carota subsp. carota), the forerunner of our cultivated carrot
  • Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), a popular herbal plant
  • Large burnet, large burnet (Pimpinella major), with spicy-aromatic leaves for salads and as a spice
  • Wild fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. vulgare), the white-flowered progenitor of yellow-flowered garden fennel
  • Sweet umbel (Myrrhis odorata), the versatile plant for the natural vegetable garden

A much misunderstood doppelganger of Bärenklau should not be missing from this list. Giersch (Aegopodium podagraria) is much better than its reputation. Instead of vehemently fighting the vigorous plant as a weed, ecologically oriented home gardeners with a penchant for natural cuisine have discovered ground elder as a tasty wild vegetable.

tips

The appearance of giant hogweed or spotted hemlock does not have to be reported, despite the potential danger. If you discover one of the two plants in the field and forest, we recommend that you report the location to the environmental office or public order office. Immediate control prevents further spread and prevents playing children from being harmed.

Category:

Herbs