A very invasive and toxic species that can be deadly when eaten is spreading all across flower beds, parks and backyard gardens. This species is called Poison Hemlock and it resembles Queen Anne’s Lace. It can be spotted on edges of farm fields, in highway right-of-ways and on fences. Just last year this plant was brought over to the United States from Europe and it is now migrating to more populated areas, which has experts concerned.

“That movement is a bit scary to me because this plant is very toxic and it’s more of an opportunity for kids to play with it and pets to eat it. It is not a plant you want around your home or in your local park,” said Dan Shaver with Indiana’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

According to the National Park Service, this biennial can be found in nearly every state in the United States. It is currently the time of year when these poison hemlock plants spread and grow. Each plant can produce up to 30,000 seeds that ripen between late June and August after it flowers. These seeds will find any little pockets that are unmanaged, whether it be pollinator habitat growing wild in a neighborhood or a street corner that isn’t getting mowed. Poison Hemlock does well in most soil conditions, but the wet springs that the Midwest experiences is the perfect environment for the toxic plant to explode.

A senior ecologist with Eco Logic, Kevin Tungesvick, said that the plant has spread too broadly to be eradicated from the states. He said that the goal is to try to manage and control this plant to the maximum extent possible, by protecting environmental and public health.

I think this article was well written and I especially liked that they included how to spot this toxic plant, how it spreads and how to manage it. The author also included a few quotes from knowledgeable and reliable sources, which helped to get the point across. I am happy that I read this article considering I like to take my dogs on walks and now I will know to watch out for this plant.