Poison Hemlock vs Cow Parsnip
Two giant white umbels - which is which?
The quick tell
Check stem and leaf. Poison Hemlock has a smooth stem with purple blotches and lacy, fern-like leaves. Cow Parsnip has a fuzzy, ridged, green stem and enormous maple-like leaves up to a foot and a half across. Both are big; hemlock is delicate up close, cow parsnip is coarse.
Field marks, side by side
| Poison Hemlock | Cow Parsnip | |
|---|---|---|
| Stem | Smooth and hairless with purple blotches | Green, ridged, and woolly-fuzzy |
| Leaves | Finely divided, fern-like, carrot-family lace | Huge, broad, three-lobed like a giant maple leaf |
| Flower head | Many small loose umbels | One large flat-topped umbel, often 8-12 in across |
| Habitat | Disturbed ground, roadsides, fencerows | Moist meadows, streambanks, mountain roadsides |
Still not sure which one you found?
Point Huck at it. One photo identifies it on the spot - and adds it to your collection.
Get Huck - freeCommon questions
Is Cow Parsnip the same as Giant Hogweed?
No, but they are relatives and the confusion is common. Giant Hogweed is the invasive monster (10-15 ft, purple-blotched bristly stem) with the most severe burning sap. Cow Parsnip is the smaller native; its sap can still burn skin in sunlight, just less severely.
Can I eat Cow Parsnip like the foragers say?
Indigenous peoples did prepare peeled young stalks, but this is a case where a mistake is fatal - the deadly hemlocks look similar to beginners. Unless you have expert, in-person instruction, leave the whole family alone.