Common name:
Common hogweed
Family:
Scientific name:
Heracleum sphondylium
Main flower color:
Range:
Widespread across all areas except the Scottish Highlands
Height:
Up to 2 m
Habitat:
Roadsides, hedgerows, fields, waste ground, open woodland
Flowers:
Small, white (sometimes pink when immature), with unequally-sized petals, in compound umbels of up to 40 rays, at the end of branched stems which are ridged and covered by rough hairs, pointing downwards. Petals are strongly notched at the tip. Umbels may be up to 15 cm in diameter; they lack bracts but do have narrow, linear bracteoles
Leaves:
Once pinnate, hairy, up to 60 cm long, divided into wavy-edged lobes
Season:
May to August
Rarity:
★★★★★
