Giant hogweed

At 20ft tall with huge, table-sized leaves, Giant Hogweed is an impressive plant that was once planted in gardens. However, this particular plant is highly invasive, it grows as aggressively as Japanese Knotweed does, and will need specific treatment to be removed completely from your land.

Giant Hogweed has spread throughout the whole of Great Britain, primarily favouring river banks, and other areas such as parks, cemeteries, and wasteland. It can be found in the common household garden, as well as in these more rural locations. The sap of the Giant Hogweed plant contains toxic chemicals known as furanocoumarins. When these chemicals come into contact with the skin in the presence of sunlight, they cause a condition called phytophotodermatitis. This condition causes reddening of the skin, which is often followed by severe burns and blistering.

The burns that are caused by Giant Hogweed can last for several months, and even once they have subsided, the skin can remain sensitive to light for many years afterwards. This makes the plant dangerous to have anywhere near your home, especially if you have children, or already have a skin condition. It’s a exceptionally unpleasant plant to have on your property, because of the dangers of coming into contact with it, so it’s best to resolve the issue and be rid of it quite swiftly.