FORGET nettles and thorny bushes, there’s a much bigger plant you want to get tired of.
The giant nut can cause severe blisters, burns and long-lasting scars if touched – and even blindness.
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It is a large, invasive plant that can grow up to 14 feet tall, with large, deeply lobed leaves that can measure up to five feet wide.
You’ll often find giant sownuts—distinguished by their umbrella-shaped clusters of white flowers—along riverbanks, roadsides, and wastelands.
It thrives in moist, nutrient-rich soils and can be particularly problematic in areas where the soil has been disturbed.
“Their dense foliage blocks light from reaching the soil beneath, killing native plants and leading to rapid soil erosion,” says Keith Gallacher, director of Complete Weed Control.
Experts have warned of a record invasion of Giant Hogweed this year as the mild, wet weather helped it grow earlier than ever.
Dubbed the UK’s “most dangerous” plant, it has a toxic sap that can cause highly painful burns and blisters within 48 hours of exposure.
These burns can leave victims hospitalized and with permanent scars.
The sap of the giant nut contains furanocoumarins, which cause serious skin reactions when exposed to sunlight.
It is also the sap that causes blindness.
The chemicals in the sap react with ultraviolet light from the sun, causing a phototoxic reaction of intense inflammation and damage to the cornea and other tissues of the eye.
The reaction can cause chemical burns and corneal blisters, similar to the skin reactions that occur when the sap is exposed to sunlight.
Severe cases can result in scarring of the cornea, leading to partial or complete loss of vision.
In some cases, the damage can be permanent if not treated immediately and properly.
This year’s initial display of Giant Hogweed may have been caused by the spring rains of 2024 – with March seeing rainfall levels rise by 27%, Yahoo reports.
The invasive species is not native to the UK.
It was first introduced as an ornamental in the 19th century, when it escaped and became naturalized in the wild, explains the Woodland Trust.
The giant sow often establishes itself along rivers and streams, where its seeds can be easily transported by water.
Public sightings should be reported to local authorities or the Environment Agency to help control their spread.
Tips for Keeping Pests in Your Garden
- Plant companion plants, such as peppermint, to repel mice.
- Place Garden Netting Pest Barrierover your flower beds.
- Fill open containers with beer and place in the soil to repel slugs.
- Spray plants with Neem Oilto repel ants, flies and spiders.
- Sprinkle your flowerbeds with diatomaceous earth.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap, 10 drops of peppermint oil and 4 cups of water and spray on flower beds.
- Place eggshells around plants to protect them from slugs and snails.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
