Hi, I am based in Northern Ireland and am trying to identify if the plant growing near my natural pond is hogweed or giant hogweed. The plant is currently no taller than 6ft (1.82m) tall and have never seen it grow previous years to any taller than this Please see photos Thanks
Welcome to the forums! I am very familiar with Heracleum sphondylium ..common name Hogweed. Heracleum Sphondylium. - Google Search Also Heracleum mantegazzianum......Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum - Google Search None of your pics show any features that match with either of the above.
To continued..see above. Sorry had to stop. I am sure other will confirm..or give correct answer. Your Pic 4 above shows a round red stem. Pics are not very clear. Really need good clear pics to show leaves, stem, flowers. I believe it to be Angelica sylvestris...wild angelica. Angelica sylvestris stem - Google Search: Wild Angelica | NatureSpot Angelica sylvestris, Wild Angelica: identification, distribution, habitat Wild Angelica, Angelica sylvestris - Flowers - NatureGate
Looks like a Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) to me. It should have strong specific smell, if to break the stem or leaves. Garden Angelica (Angelica archangelica) is similar and has also strong smell.
Would you? Angelica sylvestris should be a native species in your area: Wildflower Angelica, Wild Irish Wild Flora Wildflowers of Ireland
If you have only few plants, then mechanical removal works the best. It may have rather strong root system, so it is not very easy to just pull it out of the ground without any help with digging, when the plant is that big. If you remove only the uppers, then it may grow root suckers and still survive. But if you cut its roots through by slanted spade at ca 10...15 cm depth and then pull the plant out with most of the root system, then usually it will not produce any suckers. It's seeds in the ground are viable several years, but its seedlings are not very vigurous, by mowing you can keep it under control. Mowing several times during vegetation period helps to get rid of the plant even if it is abundant and mechanical removal is not an option. The plant is not poisonous, it is very good nectar plant, livestock readily eats it and the plant has been used as a medicinal herb or even as a famine food for humans. But as there are similar species, that are poisonous and/or phototoxic, then certain caution should be followed. Use gloves, don't let the sap of the plant onto your skin, especially under full sunshine, etc.
Please leave it. It is good for insects, and they are on rapid decline. See Plummeting insect numbers 'threaten collapse of nature'
