Giant hogweed: know the dangers and stay safe

Giant hogweed sap contains chemicals that make skin extremely sensitive to sunlight. Contact with the plant may lead to painful burns and blisters, which can sometimes be serious and long-lasting.

Children and pets should be kept well away from the plant.

How to recognise giant hogweed

Giant hogweed looks similar to an unusually large cow parsley plant. When fully grown, it can be identified by:

• its considerable height, usually between two and four metres;
• large clusters of small white flowers, which can measure up to 80 centimetres across;
• very large, sharply divided leaves, sometimes more than one metre wide; and
• thick green stems with purple blotches and coarse, bristly hairs.

It is commonly found beside rivers, roads and railway lines, as well as on waste ground, footpaths and other areas of open land.

What should I do if I find it?

Do not touch, cut or attempt to remove giant hogweed yourself. Cutting or strimming the plant could release its harmful sap and may also cause its seeds to spread.

If you see what you believe to be giant hogweed on Yorkhill Housing Association land, please contact the Association and tell us where it is located.

If it is growing in a public park, on a roadside, footpath or other council-owned land, it should be reported to Glasgow City Council.

What should I do if I touch it?

If you or someone in your household comes into contact with giant hogweed:

• Cover the affected skin immediately to protect it from sunlight.
• Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water as soon as possible.
• Keep the affected area covered and away from sunlight for at least 48 hours. Remember that ultraviolet light can still pass through clouds on dull or overcast days.
• Seek medical advice if redness, blistering or other symptoms develop, or if you feel unwell.
• Continue protecting the affected skin from sunlight and use a high-factor sunscreen in the following months.
• If sap enters the eyes, rinse them thoroughly and seek urgent medical assistance.

Please also keep dogs and other pets away from giant hogweed, as the plant can harm animals as well as people.

Further information and safety guidance are available from NatureScot.