Is Giant Hogweed Dangerous?

Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is one of the most common invasive species of weed in the UK. It is a tall plant with bristly, purple-blotched stems. It looks very similar to cow parsley, but it's important to not get the two confused!

So, why is giant hogweed dangerous? Let's find out...

Why is giant hogweed dangerous?

Giant hogweed is considered a dangerous weed in the UK as its sap contains a harmful chemical called furocoumarin.

If this chemical comes into contact with skin, it can develop into phytophotodermatitis, where the skin becomes extremely sensitive to sunlight. This is an extremely serious form of skin inflammation and can lead to great pain and discomfort.

How does giant hogweed burn?

Once the furocoumarin chemical has made contact with the skin, the components that make up the chemical will prevent your skin from protecting itself from sunlight, resulting in awful sunburns.

These dangerous chemicals can be found in the foliage, stem, flower and seed of the giant hogweed.

How long does a hogweed rash last?

If you are unlucky enough to come into contact with giant hogweed, the phototoxic reaction will begin around 15 minutes after contact.

The hogweed rash will be at its worst between a duration of 30 minutes to two hours. However, the effects will not stop there.

Due to the sensitivity of the skin, a giant hogweed burn can leave a scar that is present for upwards of 5 months after the initial reaction.

The area of skin could also be sensitive to sunlight for years after contact, so you may need to apply sun protection for this duration.

Has anyone been burned by giant hogweed?

Giant hogweed burns are common across the UK, due to the lack of knowledge surrounding this dangerous species.

Only recently, a man from west London came into contact with giant hogweed while playing football. He will have to have the affected area covered for up to six months to make a recovery.

When commenting on his recovery, he stated:

"It's been terrible to be honest...if a little kid falls in there, gets it on their face or something, that's going to cause them life-changing injuries so I'm lucky but someone else may not be".

What to do if you come into contact with giant hogweed:

If you believe you have been exposed to giant hogweed, you should take action immediately to reduce the injury.

It is recommended to:

• Wash the affected area with soap and cold water as soon as you can

• Apply a cold compress for 20 minutes, multiple times a day

• Keep the area away from sunlight for at least 48 hours

• Go to your doctors or A&E for treatment, where you can get a topical steroid to reduce discomfort

Giant Hogweed Removal Services

If you believe that you have giant hogweed present on your property, it's important to remember that giant hogweed sap can cause severe blistering upon skin contact. Therefore, it's best to utilise professional weed removal services.

Taylor Total Weed Control specialise in the control and removal of invasive species such as giant hogweed. If you’d like to talk with a member of our team about any giant hogweed related questions you may have – or any weed removal for that matter – reach out and contact us today. Our professional team members will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have, and even help you arrange your FREE weed control survey.

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