Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum)

• leaves broader and less serrated (toothed) than giant hogweed
• leaves are not shiny, has large leaf sheaths
• stems are usually green but lower portions can be purple but markings are not blotches, steaks or spots
• flower stalks and stems have soft hairs, not stiff hairs like giant hogweed
• usually blooms in July earlier than giant hogweed
• the inflorescence is composed of many small white flowers in a flat umbel,
• flower heads can be 20-30 cm in diameter, less than one quarter the size of giant hogweed
• can cause phytophotodermatitis similar to giant hogweed

 

Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota)

• leaves pinnate and divided repeatedly having a feathery appearence
• stems green with soft hairs, no purple
• blooms June through August
• inflorescence composed of many small white flowers in flat umbels no more than 10-15 cm in diameter
• grows up to 1 m high

 

Elderberry (Sambucus spp.)

• opposite, pinnate leaves, leaflets have serrated edges
• stems woody, opposite branching
• inflorescence composed of many small white flowers in terminal cymes that may be flat topped or not

 

Angelica (Angelica spp.)

• compound leaves have dozens of small leaflets
• stems may be smooth or hairy, green or reddish, has enlarged leaf sheaths
• inflorescence is a large compound umbel composed of small white to greenish flowers
• plants can grow to about 2 m high

 

Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)

• compound pinnate leaves, leaflets are lobed and/or serrated
• stems are green with longitudinal ridges
• inflorescence is an umbel of small yellow flowers
• can grow to about 1.5 m
• can cause phytophotodermatitis similar to giant hogweed but usually less severe