There’s A Deadly Plant Growing In Cleveland Yards That Looks Like A Harmless Weed
By Nikki Rhoades|Published August 02, 2023
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
The biodiversity of Greater Cleveland is a real treat, but there are still some things we nature lovers have to look out for. Poison ivy, for one, is a well-known plant to avoid. Other familiar rash-causing plants are poison oak and poison sumac — while poison oak and poison ivy fall under the “leaves of three, leave them be” rule, poison sumac is more tree-like and harder to identify. Unfortunately for Northeast Ohioans, there’s a new deadly plant in Cleveland that’s worth keeping your eyes out for… it’s pretty, so its flowers have the potential to make a victim out of bouquet pickers of any age. Here’s what you need to know to keep your eyes peeled for poison hemlock in Cleveland:
This beauty is a plant called Queen Anne's lace, or wild carrot.
While it isn't native to Ohio, many people wouldn't even know the difference due to its abundance. It is actually a beneficial companion to crops, as it attracts pollinating insects. And, as its less common name implies, this plant is a cousin of the domesticated carrot, and it does have edible roots if the plants are harvested before the roots become too woody.
As a Girl Scout in Greater Cleveland, I learned all about this plant. Legend says that Queen Anne was a famously talented lace maker, and this flower immortalizes her passion. If you look closely, you'll see a dark cluster of flowers at the center. Legend maintains that this is from a pricked finger, but science asserts that these darker petals may attract certain pollinators.
Due to the visual similarity to Queen Anne's lace, it's easy to mistake these floral clusters for something harmless. While once rare, poison hemlock is now a growing concern in Ohio, especially the central portions of the state. They're in full bloom by June or so — they have a similar growth season to Queen Anne's lace, as it is in the carrot family.
The plant is a biennial, which means it takes two years to reach the flowering state. In its first year of life or so, it clings close to the ground. By year two, it's ready to grow up to ten feet tall.
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Perhaps the best way to identify the plant is via purple splotches that appear on its stem.
Unlike other plants in the carrot family, the deadly poison hemlock likely won't have a perfectly green stem. Its flowers also produce an offensive odor when crushed, but you'll want to avoid doing that if possible. While it isn't a major skin irritant on its own, it can be deadly if you touch your eyes or mouth after handling the plant. It's important to note, too, that the entirety of this plant is toxic.
The plant typically begins to lose its petals and produce seeds in mid-to-late July, perpetuating the cycle of this noxious plant.
Once the plant reaches maturity, seeds simply drop and spread bit-by-bit. This allows the plant to take over small areas in massive clusters, and the presence of birds, rodents, and other native species spread them further beyond their point of origin. This, paired with a slow crawl north, has allowed the plant to stretch up across the state from Southern Ohio.
When the seeds drop, they may germinate almost immediately. Some will lay dormant, however, allowing the cycle to repeat year after year.
I know your burning question is what does this plant do?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, this is one plant you'll want to avoid. It was once used to execute prisoners in ancient times, and it has since caused accidental poisonings in livestock, pets, and humans. It first came to the United States as a garden plant due to its beauty, but if ingested, it can cause anything from vomiting and tachycardia to seizures and muscle death.
Not eating the plant is simple instruction enough, but you'll also want to avoid contact with your eyes and mouth if you touch it. In rare instances, it can absorb into the bloodstream. If it impacts your breathing muscles, well, you're likely to enter respiratory failure.
Perhaps the most famous victim of poison hemlock was Socrates, who was ordered to drink poison hemlock after going on trial for "corrupting" youth with his ideas.
Socrates is regarded by many as the father of modern philosophy, but his ending was haunting. Some asserted that Socrates had the opportunity to escape from prison, as his friends purportedly offered him an out. Nonetheless, this ancient thinker marched toward his death knowing what poison hemlock would do. Yikes.
So, what should we do if we, like Socrates, consume or are exposed to poison hemlock?
As the Cleveland Clinic states, poison hemlock can be unfortunately difficult to treat. Your best bet is to simply stay away from it, as there's no antidote to its poison. Instead, treatment will likely include ventilation to treat respiratory failure, an IV to prevent dehydration, and possibly other methods to target symptoms of poisoning. If you do have exposure, head to the nearest emergency room asap. Symptoms can start in as little as 15 minutes of ingestion.
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Now that you know the dangers of poison hemlock, be on the lookout for this deadly plant.
Poison hemlock is easiest to eliminate in its early stages, when it's still low to the ground and not yet flowering. Make sure to remove its roots, as the plant can resprout. While pesticide is a great option to combat this plant, don't burn it. Its fumes can be deadly!
Keep your eyes peeled if you're hiking in Ohio this summer... this is one plant you'll want to avoid.
Noxious yet beautiful, it's plain to see why this plant was once popular in gardens. Today, it's one garden weed you will want to avoid.
Given the fact that poison hemlock can grow and prosper in almost any type of soil, it’s possible to encounter poison hemlock in Cleveland. If you see it, be sure to avoid it! Of course, if you’re an avid hiker, it’s important to take arms against other dangerous plants, too. Stock up on some poison oak and poison ivy wipes to take on your next hike.
While this plant with ancient origins is deadly, many other modern day fossils are much less threatening. Check out our article on living fossils in Cleveland to learn more about the variety of species that call Northeast Ohio home.
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