giant hogweed (1 Viewer)

[paj]

All

Not really wildlife I know but how do you tell Giant Hogweed from our native species?
I've got this thing growing in my garden which looks suspiciously like one and is about 7 feet tall.

Paj

 

[burhinus]

Re Hogweed

Hi pajarero

Sounds like it could be the big one. It can grow up to 5m tall with leaves up to 1m long. Sometimes red spotted stem. It does like dampish areas. It grows in some parts of Norfolk.

Warning it is a nasty beasty!! Do not get any of the sap on your hands.

On a recent walk fairly close to home in Norfolk we went through an area on a well walked footpath. At intervals English Nature had erected warning notices with an illustration, only problem was that some of the illustration showed palm trees. Now this I find quite worrying as they are supposed to be the leading light on all things natural in England. If they cannot attach the correct illustration of a plant to a warning notice what hope is there!

burhinus

 

[paj]

Hi burhinus

The only hope I've got is to stay in the house and send my wife out to deal with it!!!

Pajarero

 

[burhinus]

Re Hogweed

Hi pajarero

Just hope she does not come in and make you a Hogweed and Hemlock herbal tea drink. I think they help with sleeping!!! Never tried it myself.

burhinus

 

[paj]

Hi burhinus

I've got that one covered - I make all the tea in this house.

Pajarero

 

[Marysan]

I'd sure like to see a picture of that monster. Any chance?

 

[IanF]

Giant Hogweed photo

Here is a not too brilliant shot of one of the beasties with a chap for scale.

 

[Marysan]

Gosh, that really is a monster! I'll never complain about my backyard weeds again. Thanks for the photo, Ian.

 

[paj]

Hi Ian

I've just seen your photo of the Giant Hogweed which looks similar to my garden monster.
Anyway mine is now definately an ex Hogweed, as I cut the rascal down about a week ago!!

paj

 

[burhinus]

Hi Ian

Glad to see that you are wearing gloves. I understand the sap causes blisters! They are impressive though.

Whenever I see them I sing the old Genesis song to myself. It is about the Victorian explorer who went off in search of the Giant Hogweed to bring it back to the UK. I wonder if anyone has wrote a song about Grey Squirrels?