- Poison hemlock grows all over the US
- It has several common names, including deadly hemlock.
- Animals and people can be poisoned and ingestion can be fatal.
Many plants are poisonous to both humans and animals, so it’s important to recognize them before it’s too late.
Knowing how to identify and avoid hemlock poison — an extremely poisonous plant with beautiful white flowers that grows in just about every state in the U.S. — can protect you and your animal, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Even small amounts can harm mammals. Ingestion is “often fatal,” the USDA says.
So before you head outside this summer, here’s what you need to know about poison hemlock, including what it looks like, which parts of it are most dangerous, and where it tends to grow.
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Is poison hemlock poisonous to the touch? Which parts are poisonous?
The USDA states that all parts of the plant are poisonous, i.e. the leaves, stem, fruit and root, with the leaves being even more toxic in the spring.
The toxins must be ingested or enter the body through the eyes, nasal passages or cuts in the skin to cause poisoning, said Ohio State University professor Mike Hogan.
Even small amounts of the plant can lead to death due to highly toxic piperidine alkaloid compounds that cause respiratory failure.
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What does poison hemlock look like?
Look for small clusters of white flowers that eventually develop into “green, deeply ribbed fruit containing several seeds,” the USDA states. “After ripeness, the fruit turns grey-brown.”
Venom hemlock has an “unpleasant” odor associated with alkaloids, according to the US National Park Service.
It can be two to 10 feet tall, according to the National Park Service. The hollow stem is usually marked with small purple spots.
Don’t contact poison hemlock with bare skin, even with gloves, because sap can be accidentally rubbed in the eyes or swallowed while handling food, Hogan said.
Where Does Poisonous Hemlock Fir Grow? In which states can it be found?
Hemlock poison generally grows in moist environments and is usually found along fencing, in irrigation ditches, along roadsides, at field edges and in creeks.
The plant can be found in every state of the country except Alaska, Florida, Hawaii and Mississippi, according to the USDA.
When Does Poisonous Hemlock Fir Grow?
Venom hemlock is a biennial — meaning it spends its first growing season in a vegetative stage, without blooming or reproducing — and starts growing around early spring. The plant can be perennial in certain environments.
Don’t mistake hemlock poison for wild parsnips
Ingesting the roots of the plant, often confused with wild parsnips, is a common way people are poisoned.
Because of their similar names, the deadlier western water hemlock is sometimes confused with poison hemlock. Seizures are a common sign of waterlock poisoning, although seizures have been reported with poison hemlock poisoning.
What are the symptoms of poison hemlock? Ingestion can be fatal
Immediate medical attention is required if accidental poisoning from this plant is suspected. Signs of poisoning usually appear within an hour of ingesting the plant, and death can occur within two to three hours.
Symptoms include trembling, salivation, lack of coordination, dilation of the pupils, rapid and weak pulse, respiratory paralysis and gastrointestinal irritation.
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Venom hemlock does not cause a rash or blistering.
An herbicide can be used to control this dangerous plant and will minimize the risk of direct contact with it.
Contributions: The Columbus Dispatch
Camille Fine is a trending visual producer on USA TODAY’s NOW team.