Identifying Giant hogweed
Giant hogweed is closely related to common Cow Parsley - the two are similar in shape and colour. The stem is green with dark red spots, is ribbed and had sparse, spiky hairs. Its stems may be as thick as 10cm in mature plants. The leaves can be up to a metre across and over two metres long. The plants flowers are white, up to half a metre across and comprise clusters of smaller flowers forming an umbrella-shaped structure. Giant Hogweed can grow in excess of 4 metres high and is naturalised by rivers.
