Poison Hemlock?? - Ask Extension
Is it toxic?
Should it be dealt with?
Is it invasive?
Knowledgebase
Poison Hemlock?? #874567
Asked June 25, 2024, 4:44 AM EDT
Is it toxic?
Should it be dealt with?
Is it invasive?
Calhoun County Michigan
Expert Response
This could be poison hemlock, but it is tough to be sure given the distance of the photo. I would need photos of the stem and leaves and a closeup of the seed head to be more confident.
If it is poison hemlock the only real hazard is eating it or inhaling it if you're mowing it and fine particles are in the air. Touching it is generally not a problem. In fact, we have it growing here in Beal Botanical Garden.
Regardless of what it is, if this is your property and you don't want more of it then you should dig it out and dispose of it. This specimen already has immature seeds on it, so there will be more plants in the future. Given the biennial nature of most plants in the carrot family, it is likely that there are more plants in their year 1 rosette (low growing) phase around the base of this plant. The lifecycle is comparable to wild carrot (aka Queen Anne's lace).
Poison hemlock is an introduced species, but not classified as invasive. It is commonly found through out Michigan...though we are seeing more and more reports in the last several years.
I am happy to look at more photos of this plant, but if you'd also like some resources. We have an MSU Extension article on identifying it and I'll include another resource for the Carrot Family as a whole from the MN Dept of Transportation that I find very helpful.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/poison-hemlock-identification-and-control
https://westcentralwisconsininvasiveplantmanagement.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/carrot-family-weedy-white-umbels-from-mn.pdf
If it is poison hemlock the only real hazard is eating it or inhaling it if you're mowing it and fine particles are in the air. Touching it is generally not a problem. In fact, we have it growing here in Beal Botanical Garden.
Regardless of what it is, if this is your property and you don't want more of it then you should dig it out and dispose of it. This specimen already has immature seeds on it, so there will be more plants in the future. Given the biennial nature of most plants in the carrot family, it is likely that there are more plants in their year 1 rosette (low growing) phase around the base of this plant. The lifecycle is comparable to wild carrot (aka Queen Anne's lace).
Poison hemlock is an introduced species, but not classified as invasive. It is commonly found through out Michigan...though we are seeing more and more reports in the last several years.
I am happy to look at more photos of this plant, but if you'd also like some resources. We have an MSU Extension article on identifying it and I'll include another resource for the Carrot Family as a whole from the MN Dept of Transportation that I find very helpful.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/poison-hemlock-identification-and-control
https://westcentralwisconsininvasiveplantmanagement.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/carrot-family-weedy-white-umbels-from-mn.pdf