Poison Hemlock - BE CAREFUL!

Poison Hemlock

The plants in these photos look similar to Queen Anne's Lace and they are pretty, but they are VERY poisonous and even DEADLY! They are called Poison Hemlock - of the same family as Queen Anne's Lace - but when picked can cause severe skin burns and are fatal if ingested. This version is the deadliest, the Spotted Water Hemlock.

The reason for this post is not to reinvent the wheel, you can read a great article about this poisonous plant by Grow Forage Cook Ferment HERE, and the US Department of Fish and Wildlife HERE. This post is to remind you to be vigilant. These plants seem to be popping up more and more alongside Queen Anne's Lace or where QAL once grew. 

This particular batch is growing along our driveway in Maine. Last summer, I noticed this different plant growing among the Queen Anne's Lace and recognized that it was different but it was back in a field, far enough that I didn't want to venture into the tall grasses to check it out, you know - TICKS. Thank goodness I did not!

I recall seeing a post last summer on the FaceBook group, Hiking and Backpacking Pennsylvania, about this exact plant along with a warning to stay away.

Note the red streaking of the stems.

And yes, I researched the heck out of it! We followed the directions to verify the identity by looking  for red streaking, or spots on the stems, especially near the base of the plant. As you see by the photo above - positive ID!  According to several articles, GET RID OF IT RIGHT AWAY and be vigilant as it likes to spread, especially if it is located in an area where children or animals play.

I'm not a fan of Round Up, but it and gearing up from head to toe, pulling each plant out and disposing of the foliage in plastic bags, are the two ways to get rid of it.

I am going to spray it and see what happens, being very careful to spray only on these plants and to keep an eye on any new sprouts.

Several articles say using Round Up is trading one bad thing for another so pick your poison and live with it. Take the necessary precautions outlined in the article.

Will give you updates.

Kelli

Further reading:
https://timbercreekfarmer.com/removing-poison-hemlock-yard/
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74162.html
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/kill-hemlocks-30900.html
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/cicuta_maculata.shtml
https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/logan-ut/poisonous-plant-research/docs/poison-hemlock-conium-maculatum/