Poison Hemlock

Conium maculatum

 

CONTAINphoto: E Flora

Family: Apiaceae (Parsley)

Other Scientific Names: None.

Other Common Names: Hemlock

Origin: Europe

Growth Form/Reproduction: Biennial forb. Reproduces through seed.

Legal Status: None.

Impacts:
Agricultural: Crowds outdesirable forage species and can pison lifestock and humans. 
Ecological: Gradually invades native riparian and lowland communities.
Human: All parts of the plant are highly poisonous and should be handled with caution.

Habitat: Dry to moist sites.  Can be found in poorly drained soils and scattered in riparian areas.  Often found along streatms, irrigation ditches and the borders of pastures and cropland, and can invade perennial crops.

Status and Distribution: Locally common in southwest areas of the province, including the Vancouver and Victoria areas. 

Management Strategy: All parts of this plant are poisonous. Use gloves and protective clothing when handling this plant, washing all clothing and tools afterwards and taking caution to avoid skin contact with plant materials. Manual removal is recommended: larger populations can be controlled by stopping seed production, which can continue throughout the winter. Cut flowering stems as close to the ground as possible.  Young plants and small infestations can be removed by digging/pulling up roots; this is easiest when the soil is moist.
Prevent the establishment of this species by eliminating seed production and maintaining healthy native plant communities.
 

Additional Resources:

Weeds BC

Sannich Invasive Plant Alert