New Brunswickers worried about coming across giant hogweed this summer can breathe a sigh of relief because though the dangerous invasive plant does grow here it is extremely rare.
That’s according to Paula Noel of the Nature Conservancy of Canada who says there have been less than five confirmed sightings of the plant in New Brunswick ever. She says most of the time what people are seeing is not giant hogweed but she does warn that it’s best to be sure before you try to touch one of the plants in any way.
Noel says woodland angelica, which is common around the St. John River Valley, is often misidentified as giant hogweed.
Click here for a giant hogweed identification factsheet which includes details about plants commonly mistaken for giant hogweed. If you suspect that what you have come across is giant hogweed, you can contact the New Brunswick Invasive Species Council to report it and send them photos for identification. Their email is nb.invasive@gmail.com.
(Photo by G Graham)