Is this giant hogweed?

peterrudd96

Apologies, I don't know a great deal about gardening.

It was just pointed out to me by a friend that these plants that I walk past almost daily might be giant hogweed.
But I don't know enough about it to say if it is, or just something similar. 
So I was told this is the best place to ask.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Ps: if it is giant hogweed, how dangerous actually is it? 
Would brushing up against it result in burns?
Or would I have to do something more violent/disruptive?

Buttercupdays

Just Hogweed - they can be large plants, but those are not the harmful giants. I've got lots of them in the wilder reaches of my garden!

Uff

The one you show looks like the common hogweed. See below how to tell the difference. The giant hogweed is enormous. Yes, brushing against it can cause burns that then cause painful blisters. 
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2022/06/giant-hogweed-facts/#:~:text=The leaves of common hogweed,more rounded than giant hogweed.&text=Common hogweed is very similar,are ridged, hollow and hairy.

Dovefromabove

I agree … it’s our native Common Hogweed … the sort we picked by the armful for our pet rabbits and goats when we were children.  It’s also a beautiful plant with flowers that are important for pollinators and wonderful seedheads that feed the birds and small mammals in the autumn and winter. 

Giant Hogweed is a an introduced plant and a very different kettle of fish. 

😊 

ShepherdsBarn

But common hogweed can also cause burns to some people, maybe not as serious as the giant stuff, but you still need to treat it with respect. 🙂

Dovefromabove

Very unusually ... if you know that you or your children have very sensitive skin then best to wear long sleeves ... but none of us or the many children in the village who picked it every year throughout the spring and summer ever got any rashes to worry about ... we may have got stung by nettles and scratched by brambles and briars when we we were clambering through the hedges and ditches to pick it, but we didn't worry about that either.  

Uff

Although giant hogweed is a plant not to be messed around with I have to admit that I find it almost awe inspiring. Although I don't see it often up here it makes me take notice when I do. I wouldn't like one in the garden though.

Palustris

Hogweed gets its name from the old practice of using the new shoots as a spring tonic for pigs.

Dovefromabove

It's also very good to cook and eat for people too ... a favourite with foragers ... tastes a bit like asparagus ...

https://www.wildfooduk.com/edible-wild-plants/hogweed-2/

Uff

I like that website Dove. Our Marlow has taught me a lot about fungi. I'd love to go on one of his fungi foraging courses but he doesn't do many in my neck of the woods, so to speak.

Silver surfer

1st pic shows
A. Filipendula ulmaria, commonly known as meadowsweet 
B. Maybe Valariana officianalis.






Heracleum mantegazzianum..common name Giant hogweed grows to be a giant.
See below.