Don’t touch the giant hogweed or report a nuisance

RHEDEN – The giant hogweed is blooming again in many places. A beautiful plant to look at, but this plant can cause burns to humans and animals when touched.

The plant flowers in the period from July until well into autumn with white flower heads, the size of an umbrella. The plant contains essential oil with furocoumarins, which can cause inflammation on the skin under the influence of light. The juice from the hairs can even cause permanent blindness on contact with the eyes.

Public municipal land and site owners (e.g. Twickel or Natuurmonumenten)

The municipality of Rheden only removes the giant hogweed on public land where residents can come into contact with it. For example, along cycling and walking paths, playgrounds and other places where many people come. Notifications can be made to the Township.

If you come into contact with the giant hogweed:

• Rinse immediately with plenty of cold water
• After rinsing, cover the skin from the sunlight and avoid the sun for a week
• Go to the doctor as soon as skin damage is visible
• Did you get juice in your eyes? Immediately rinse eyes with plenty of water and contact your doctor immediately
• Did you get juice in your mouth? Go straight to the emergency room. This is very dangerous

Warn the municipality about the presence of hogweed.

Even a superficial touch is enough to cause complaints and that applies to every part of the plant. If your dog has come into contact with the plant, it is best to wash it thoroughly with water and dog shampoo as soon as possible and avoid sunlight for a few days. If the skin does become inflamed, take care of it as well as possible with, for example, burns ointment and give the animal painkillers. The wounds will always heal, but sometimes a scar remains.

There are two types of the plant: the giant hogweed and the common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) that occurs naturally in Europe. The giant hogweed can grow up to four meters high, with a stem up to ten centimeters thick that is spotted with red. The plant has huge leaves from one to one and a half meters long that are coarsely serrated, hairy and deeply incised.

New exotic

For several years we have also known Sosnowsky’s hogweed, which comes from the former Eastern Bloc and has been given the sinister nickname Stalin’s Revenge. Sosnowsky’s hogweed can grow between three and five meters high with an even thicker hogweed than the ‘regular’ giant hogweed. Except for the size, Sosnowsky’s hogweed hardly differs from the giant hogweed.

Common Hogweed
The common hogweed is a 90 to 150 centimeters high plant that is common along dikes and roads. This hogweed is also a sturdy plant with dangerously sharp leaf tips. When in contact with the common hogweed, the hairs of the plant can cause itching and irritation, especially if the spot is exposed to sunlight. In more extreme cases, light blisters develop. The first signs often appear after 24 hours, which can make it difficult to know that you have been in contact with the plant.

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