Wild Parsnip appeared in my garden - Ask Extension
Should I remove it? I’d prefer to leave it unless it’s invasive and non-native.
Knowledgebase
Wild Parsnip appeared in my garden #877301
Asked July 15, 2024, 1:05 PM EDT
Should I remove it? I’d prefer to leave it unless it’s invasive and non-native.
Linn County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi EGBRAC,
The plant is ragwort, or tansy. It is poisonous to animals. However, if you see bright orange and black caterpillars on it, they eat tansy and can destroy the plant. This caterpillars then become Cinnabar moths.
I am attaching a video link for your review on the moths.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cinnabar+moth&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS1030US1030&oq=cinnabar+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDAgAECMYJxiABBiKBTIMCAAQIxgnGIAEGIoFMhIIARAuGBQYgwEYhwIYsQMYgAQyBggCEEUYQDINCAMQLhivARjHARiABDIHCAQQABiABDIMCAUQABgUGIcCGIAEMgcIBhAAGIAEMgYIBxBFGD2oAgCwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Wild parsnip is a member of the carrot family and is quite invasive and the sap can burn your hands. However, it looks like Queen Anne's Lace rather than the daisy like flower of ragwort aka Tansy.
Here is an article on Tansy Ragwort from OSU: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/pests-weeds-diseases/weeds/tansy-ragwort
And another from Cornell University on wild parsnip: https://blogs.cornell.edu/weedid/wild-parsnip/
Each of these links have pictures for you to easily ID the plants. It is my recommendation that you remove the plants including the roots and dispose in the trash, please do not put it in your compost pile if you have one. If you do use an herbicide when they are dead, again put in the trash.
If you have further questions, please contact us again.
The plant is ragwort, or tansy. It is poisonous to animals. However, if you see bright orange and black caterpillars on it, they eat tansy and can destroy the plant. This caterpillars then become Cinnabar moths.
I am attaching a video link for your review on the moths.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cinnabar+moth&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS1030US1030&oq=cinnabar+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDAgAECMYJxiABBiKBTIMCAAQIxgnGIAEGIoFMhIIARAuGBQYgwEYhwIYsQMYgAQyBggCEEUYQDINCAMQLhivARjHARiABDIHCAQQABiABDIMCAUQABgUGIcCGIAEMgcIBhAAGIAEMgYIBxBFGD2oAgCwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Wild parsnip is a member of the carrot family and is quite invasive and the sap can burn your hands. However, it looks like Queen Anne's Lace rather than the daisy like flower of ragwort aka Tansy.
Here is an article on Tansy Ragwort from OSU: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/pests-weeds-diseases/weeds/tansy-ragwort
And another from Cornell University on wild parsnip: https://blogs.cornell.edu/weedid/wild-parsnip/
Each of these links have pictures for you to easily ID the plants. It is my recommendation that you remove the plants including the roots and dispose in the trash, please do not put it in your compost pile if you have one. If you do use an herbicide when they are dead, again put in the trash.
If you have further questions, please contact us again.
