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Common Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium 

 
 
Wildlife GardenWildlife garden plant
Attracts BeesBees are attracted to this plant
Perennial Life CyclePerennial life cycle
Umbrella-Shaped FlowersUmbrella-shaped flowers
White FlowersWhite flowers
5 Petals5 petals
May-Nov Flowering
period
Lobed LeavesLobed leaves
Forwardly-Toothed LeavesForwardly-toothed leaves
Ribbed StemRibbed stem
Tap RootTap root
200cmMaximum height
 
 
  Main image of Common Hogweed
© 2021 Adrian Briggs
 

Common Hogweed is a native perennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in grassland, roadsides and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 200cm.

Common Hogweed is said to take its name from its use as pig fodder and the unpleasant smell of its flowers. The plant is sometimes mistaken for Giant Hogweed, its toxic, non-native and invasive relative. The distinguishing features for Common Hogweed include: a shorter maximum height, of up to about 2 metres (as opposed to 5 metres); hairy stems, with purple areas but lacking purple blotches; and leaves with wide undulating lobes (as opposed to very large leaves, deeply-divided, with jagged and coarsely-toothed lobes).

Botanic classification and naming: Common Hogweed is a member of the Carrot (Apiaceae) family. The genus name 'Heracleum' identifies the plant as a Hogweed and its species name 'sphondylium' means 'vertebrate (stem)'.

Concerns: Irritant on skin contact.

Benefits: Common Hogweed produces large volumes of nectar which attract bees and hoverflies for pollination.

Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.

 

 
Flower of Common Hogweed

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Flowers:
Common Hogweed usually flowers between May and November.

Flower colour:

Flower Colour White

White

Flower shape:

Flower Shape  Umbrella

Umbrella

Petals:

Petal Number =  5

5

Leaf of Common Hogweed

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Leaves:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Shape is Lobed

Lobed

Or:

Alternative Leaf Shape is Pinnate

Pinnate

Leaf Margins:

Leaf Margin is forwardly-toothed

forwardly-toothed

Stem of Common Hogweed

© 2021 Adrian Briggs

 

Stem and Roots:

Stem shape:

Stem Shape is Ribbed

Ribbed

Root type:

Root Type is Tap

Tap