Don’t be fooled by the white spring flowers of poison hemlock when you encounter it in the wild. The plant is highly invasive and dangerous, causing illnesses in people and animals that come into contact with it.
The poisonous plant mixes with non-poisonous plants and grows throughout Missouri, blooming from May to September, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
The plant takes two years to grow and produces up to 38,000 seeds per plant, University of Missouri Extension Weed Scientist Kevin Bradley wrote in a blog post. It is one of the first plants to green up in spring and can be found along roadsides, on the edges of cultivated fields, along stream beds, near irrigation ditches and in residual areas, United States Department of Agriculture says.
Here’s what else you need to know about poison hemlock.
What does poison hemlock look like?
Poison hemlock grows from a central stem and has light green stems and fern-like leaves that can grow up to 6 feet tall in Missouri’s climate. It forms umbrella-shaped clusters of 12 to 15 five-petaled white flowers in spring in its second year of growth.
HOW POISONOUS IS HEMMEL?
Every part of the plant is poisonous. Poisoning can occur in humans through inhalation of the plant’s vapors or through skin contact. Eating part of the plant can be fatal to humans. It’s more dangerous than poison ivywhich causes parts of a person’s body to itch if they touch the plant.
The plant is also toxic to animals, including cats, dogs and horses. Contact a veterinarian immediately or call Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 if your pet shows signs of poisoning. Death can occur quickly.
HOW TO GET RID OF POISON HEMP
If you find what you suspect is poison hemlock on your property, get rid of it immediately. There are two ways to get rid of hemlock: dig it up or use herbicide.
If the hemlock is near other plants that you do not want to harm, it is recommended that you dig it up. When removing the plant, you must wear long sleeves, gloves and eye protection as all parts of the plant are poisonous. When throwing away the plant, you should put it in a separate plastic bag and be careful not to burn it, as the smoke is dangerous.
If you are using herbicide but want to protect the grass around the plant, Bradley recommends using 2-4-d based herbicide or one with the active ingredient triclopyr.
“The key to control is to apply the herbicide when the plants are young and still in the rosette stage,” Bradley said in a blog post. “Mature plants do not respond to chemical control measures.”
WHAT PLANTS LOOK LIKE HEMLESS?
Poison hemlock can be confused with other plants. Here are some of their lookalikes and what you should know about them:
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Queen Anne’s lace/wild carrot: This edible and medicinal plant is shorter than hemlock. Its stem has hairs, unlike the smooth stem of the hemlock.
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Yarrow: Edible and medicinal, it is shorter than hemlock and has distinctive frilly leaves.
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Wild fennel: The plant is edible and its flowers are yellow instead of white. The entire plant smells like anise or licorice.
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Elderflower: Its flowers are edible, with leaves that branch in opposite directions, where hemlock leaves alternate.
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Beef parsley: Edible, this plant is shorter than hemlock. The stems are ribbed, not smooth like hemlock, and hairs grow on the underside of the leaves.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I TOUCH HEMMEL?
O Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you should take the following steps if you touch a poisonous plant like hemlock:
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Rinse immediately with isopropyl alcohol, poisonous plant products or dishwashing soap and plenty of water.
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Rub under your nails. Apply moist compresses, calamine lotion, or hydrocortisone cream to your skin to reduce itching and blisters.
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Take an antihistamine like Benadryl to help relieve itching.
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Get medical help in severe cases or if the rash occurs on the face or genitals.
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Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room if you have a serious reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing.
Symptoms of poison hemlock may include vomiting, sweating, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, dry mouth, high blood pressure, increased salivation, restlessness and confusion, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
