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Heracleum sphondylium

hogweed

Apiaceae Europe and temperate Asia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Heracleum sphondylium is a robust biennial or short-lived perennial growing 3-6.5 feet (1-2 m) tall on hollow, ridged, bristly stems 0.4-1 inch (1-2.5 cm) thick. Large pinnate leaves reach 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) long, divided into broad, coarsely toothed and lobed segments with a rough, hairy surface. Flat-topped compound umbels 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) across carry many small white to pinkish flowers from June to September, the marginal flowers with enlarged outer petals. Flowering stems rise in the second year from a basal rosette formed the first year, after which the plant sets seed and often dies. Flattened, broadly winged seeds 0.3-0.4 inch (7-10 mm) long ripen in late summer. The clear, watery sap contains furanocoumarins that sensitize skin to sunlight, causing redness and blistering after sun exposure on contact. It is smaller in all parts than the related Heracleum mantegazzianum. Plants grow in moist grassland, verges, and open woodland, and self-seed freely into surrounding ground.

Native Range

Native to Europe and temperate Asia, from the British Isles across to western Siberia. Grows in damp meadows, hedgerows, roadside verges, ditches, and woodland clearings on fertile, moist soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown in wildflower meadows and naturalistic pollinator plantings, where the umbels draw a range of insects, spaced 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) apart. Suited to damp meadow and verge-style plantings rather than formal beds. Its self-seeding and phototoxic sap limit use near paths and seating areas.

How to Identify

Identified by tall hollow ridged stems topped with broad flat umbels 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) across of white to pink-tinged flowers, the marginal florets with enlarged outer petals. Leaves are large, pinnate, and roughly hairy with broad toothed segments. Distinguished from giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum by its much smaller stature, 3-6.5 feet (1-2 m) rather than 8-16 feet (2.5-5 m), and from Daucus carota by its coarse leaves and greater size.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 6'6"

Width/Spread2' - 3'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Summer

Flowers from June through September, peaking in July and August. Umbels open over several weeks, and a single plant carries flowers and developing seed at the same time. Bloom is earlier in southern Europe and delayed in northern and upland sites.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pink-tinged

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2 years (biennial)

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to partial shade in moist, fertile soil and tolerates heavy clay. Needs little or no supplemental water in temperate climates with regular rainfall. Self-seeds heavily, and seedlings establish quickly in open ground; removing seed heads before they ripen limits spread. The watery sap contains furanocoumarins that blister skin in sunlight after contact, so sap contact during cutting can produce burns on exposed skin. Cutting the flowering stem before seed sets prevents most spread, since the plant is monocarpic and dies after seeding. No significant pests or diseases affect it.

Pruning

Cut flowering stems before the seeds ripen to limit self-seeding, as the plant dies after setting seed. The sap can blister skin in sunlight, so stem cutting carries a risk of phototoxic burns where sap meets bare skin. Stems and foliage collapse after autumn frost.

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets and humans