Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium)

Edibility:Edible Good

Eating notes: The young unopened shoots are cut and steamed for 10mins as a side vegetable.

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Height: 80 - 160cm

Leaves: Large compound leaves with leaflets in 3 opposite pairs

Flowers: Large umbels of tiny white flowers.

Stems: In spring the leaves grow on long stems directly from the base.  In summer a central flower stem forms.

Look-a-likes: The main look-a-like for Hogweed is Giant Hogweed. This plant is poisonous and the sap causes contact dermatitis. The obvious distinction between the two plants is there size with the Giant Hogweed being twice as big. However, since the young shoots are picked before the plants are fully-grown this can't be relied upon. Either pick from patches that you have seen in previous years haven't grown too tall, or where last years dried flow spikes are still visible (and small).