Giant hogweed is a towering herbaceous perennial native to Eurasia that can reach 8 to 15 feet tall, producing showy, umbrella-like flower clusters from June through July that attract butterflies and other pollinators. Hardy in zones 3 through 9, this member of the Apiaceae family thrives in full sun to partial shade and moderate moisture conditions. It arrived in North America in 1917, originally valued as an ornamental garden specimen before its invasive tendencies and hazardous sap became widely understood. Today it remains on the Federal Noxious Weed list, and growing it requires careful consideration and proper permits in many regions.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-9
180in H x 48in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Giant hogweed earned its common name honestly: plants can tower 10 to 15 feet, their massive leaves and stems creating an almost tropical presence in temperate gardens. The flower clusters are genuinely spectacular, showy and cartwheel-like, emerging in early to midsummer and acting as a magnet for butterflies and other pollinators. But this plant demands respect. Its sap contains compounds that cause severe blistering and rashes when the skin is exposed to sunlight, a reaction known as phytophotodermatitis. Combine this with its aggressive self-seeding habit and its ability to crowd out native plants, and you have a plant that changed from garden darling to ecological threat within a few decades.
Giant hogweed is primarily used for naturalization in landscapes, though with significant restrictions. In regions where it is permitted, it can create dramatic visual impact in wild gardens or naturalized areas due to its towering height and striking summer flowers. However, its primary role today is largely cautionary: it serves as a teaching example in invasive species management and ecological restoration work. Its presence in the landscape now typically signals an ongoing control effort rather than intentional cultivation.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Regular removal of flower heads before seed maturation is essential to prevent self-seeding and spread. Cutting back the plant after flowering can help manage its size, though the primary goal should be preventing seed production rather than ornamental shaping.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Giant hogweed's story is a cautionary tale about unintended consequences in horticulture. Native to the Caucasus region of Eurasia, it was first brought to the United States in 1917, introduced to an ornamental garden in New York. Ornamental plantings of the species spread across the country, and for a time gardeners appreciated its dramatic height, massive foliage, and striking flowers. It was not until later that the full scope of its problems became apparent: the plant's voracious self-seeding ability, its capacity to colonize and choke out native species, and most critically, the dangerous phototoxic sap that caused severe skin reactions in those who handled it. What began as an attempt to bring exotic beauty to American gardens became an ecological and public health concern.”