that very much sounds like poison hemlock (your Queen Anne’s Lace lookalike as well as what you are seeing roadside.) I’m at a loss as to what can be done to prevent those plants from blooming and seeding every field and pasture nearby, but it is imperative that the word get out about this highly toxic plant. Deaths have been reported among children who thought it was benign and used the plant’s hollow stem as a whistle. Toxicity, even on dried canes, can remain for up to three years.
The January freeze did a good job of knocking the plants we watched down, but they re-emerged this Spring with full vigor and we just pulled plants and taproots (similar to Queen Anne’s Lace.) (One must wear gloves.)
I am not aware of any other Best Practices our county recommends, but this plant does pose high risk to humans, livestock and wildlife.
Cherry also runs underground, so those seedlings may actually be suckers. I have a weeping cherry (sterile - no fruit) left by the previous owners and whatever rootstock it is on throws up suckers every year. My fruiting cherries in my orchard do not sucker - better root stock? Mulching and mowing? Dunno.
from what I just read, you do not seem to have any infestation with the poison hemlock plant. Good for you (it is terribly invasive and highly toxic to humans as well as animals.) We are in Clackamas County (Carus area) and it seems to be spreading everywhere in our area. Pulling the plants now (and making sure they do not re-establish) proves to be the best approach to keep them from blooming and spreading at an alarming rate. It only takes one plant to seed hundreds more.
Thank you for beginning this helpful blog and sharing the information you have gathered. We have farmed in the Willamette Valley for over 70 years and my husband assures me that the problem with blackberries, ivy and other invasive plants has never been greater. Best of luck!
Hi Susanne! I live only a few minutes from you, but I have yet to see poison hemlock. Though I did pull a seedling of what I thought was Queen Anne's Lace that had purplish blotching on it, and it made me wonder. That was a few days ago. I've also been wondering what the plant is that blooms all over the roadsides on Beavercreek and on 213 that looks carrot-like but not. Roughly early summer bloom time? Is that the dreaded hemlock?
Hi Amy,
that very much sounds like poison hemlock (your Queen Anne’s Lace lookalike as well as what you are seeing roadside.) I’m at a loss as to what can be done to prevent those plants from blooming and seeding every field and pasture nearby, but it is imperative that the word get out about this highly toxic plant. Deaths have been reported among children who thought it was benign and used the plant’s hollow stem as a whistle. Toxicity, even on dried canes, can remain for up to three years.
The January freeze did a good job of knocking the plants we watched down, but they re-emerged this Spring with full vigor and we just pulled plants and taproots (similar to Queen Anne’s Lace.) (One must wear gloves.)
I am not aware of any other Best Practices our county recommends, but this plant does pose high risk to humans, livestock and wildlife.
Thank you for noting, Amy!
Cherry also runs underground, so those seedlings may actually be suckers. I have a weeping cherry (sterile - no fruit) left by the previous owners and whatever rootstock it is on throws up suckers every year. My fruiting cherries in my orchard do not sucker - better root stock? Mulching and mowing? Dunno.
That's a good point that it is likely related to rootstock. When I do a write up on growing sweet cherry I'll look into that closer.
Hi Amy,
from what I just read, you do not seem to have any infestation with the poison hemlock plant. Good for you (it is terribly invasive and highly toxic to humans as well as animals.) We are in Clackamas County (Carus area) and it seems to be spreading everywhere in our area. Pulling the plants now (and making sure they do not re-establish) proves to be the best approach to keep them from blooming and spreading at an alarming rate. It only takes one plant to seed hundreds more.
Thank you for beginning this helpful blog and sharing the information you have gathered. We have farmed in the Willamette Valley for over 70 years and my husband assures me that the problem with blackberries, ivy and other invasive plants has never been greater. Best of luck!
Hi Susanne! I live only a few minutes from you, but I have yet to see poison hemlock. Though I did pull a seedling of what I thought was Queen Anne's Lace that had purplish blotching on it, and it made me wonder. That was a few days ago. I've also been wondering what the plant is that blooms all over the roadsides on Beavercreek and on 213 that looks carrot-like but not. Roughly early summer bloom time? Is that the dreaded hemlock?
Thanks for the comment!