Concern growing over keeping giant hogweed out of Sudbury soil

The City of Greater Sudbury has removed a dangerous plant from a ditch along Attlee Avenue.

It's not the first time giant hogweed has been found in that location.

The city's Manager of Environmental Planning Initiatives, Stephen Monet, said this particular species of plant is harmful because it has a dangerous chemical in its sap.

"If your skin is exposed to the sap, it receives sap on the skin, then subsequently you expose your skin to the sunlight, you can get what is called Phytophotodermatitis."

Monet explained that 'Phyto' is for plant, 'photo' is for sunlight and 'dermatitis' stands for the skin rash.

That's why Monet warned that safety precautions must be taken when attempting to remove giant hogweed.

Staff with the city`s parks and recreation department will remove giant hogweed from municipal property.

They will also check on possible sightings of the plant, on both public and private property.

Sometimes confused with cow parsnips

Monet said giant hogweed can sometimes be confused with cow parsnips.

Both species are tall plants. Giant hogweed has a thick stem with a white flower, while cow parsnips are more yellowish with a thinner stem.

"In the ditches, along some of the roads, it often gets reported, people call in thinking that it's giant hogweed. We've inspected those areas thoroughly in the past and they've always come up [as] cow parsnip. Cow parsnip is something that because it's a native plant we don't want to control it. It is part of the natural ecosystem, here in Greater Sudbury."

Other well documented local spots for cow parsnips include the Wahnapitae area and near Fairbanks Lake.

Monet believes gardeners brought giant hogweed to Sudbury from southern Ontario, likely prior to 2010. He says it was 2010 when the plant species first found here. 

He said giant hogweed is not a plant you want in your garden.