Key identifying traits
-
Large, 6-12” across, leaves have
serrated edges and are sometimes hairy
-
Flower stalks can grow 2-8’ tall
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Stems are somewhat hairy and
grooved
-
Flowers are white to a cream
color and grow in 5-petal umbels at the top of the stalks-
flower clusters are flat
Biology and ecology
-
A perennial plant spreading by
seeds
-
It
forms a low growing rosette and does not flower in the first
year
-
It is has a large, fleshy
taproot
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Cow parsnip is a native species
-
Grows in disturbed areas, along
roadways, and often found growing along waterways. It also
grows in mountainous regions
Control
Prevention –
Learn to identify plants; start monitoring early in the season
Biological –
No known biological control in our area
Cultural –
Plant competitive grass or other crop
Mechanical –
Cutting the plants will slow it down but it will regrow. Digging
plants out is effective but labor intensive due to the large taproot
Chemical – Cow parsnip is not
often thought of as a problem weed so there is not any information
for control in the
PNW Weed Management handbook.
SCNWCB staff has treated a
small area using dicamba plus 2,4-D with fairly good success if
treated before it gets too big |
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