Poison hemlock: Toxic plant becoming more widespread

SPRUCE PINE – Franklin County residents are urged to be on guard against a highly toxic plant that is becoming more prevalent.

Joel Pounders, a naturalist and Spruce Pine resident, said poison hemlock closely resembles Queen Anne’s lace but poses serious health risks.

Pounders said he found around 10 plants recently but was successful in safely getting rid of them. Precautions are necessary to avoid unpleasant side effects, he added.

“I used 2-4D, a broadscale herbicide,” Pounders said.

Poison hemlock and Queen Anne’s Lace look similar, but there are several key differences: Stem texture — Queen Anne’s Lace has hairy stems, while poison hemlock stems are smooth.

Stem color — Queen Anne’s Lace has a fully green stem, but poison hemlock’s stem is green with purple streaks or blotches.

Plant size — Queen Anne’s Lace typically grows 2 to 3 feet tall, while poison hemlock can reach 3 to 10 feet and produce many flower heads.

“Queen Anne’s Lace is found all over Franklin County,” Pounders said. “It’s totally harmless, and a lot of people like to use it in floral arrangements, so I was concerned when I discovered poison hemlock in Franklin County.”

By María Camp He emphasized the importance of awareness — not panic.

“There are a number of plants in our forest today that have been here with us all along that are very toxic or poisonous, but it’s just that they’re not that common,” he added.

A growing threat

Pounders said the scary thing about poison hemlock is it can be “very prolific,” and it’s not a nuisance plant most people in Franklin County are used to dealing with.

“It’s not something we’re used to having in our environment,” Pounders added. “People may not take precautions if they don’t know what they’re dealing with.”

According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension Services website, poison hemlock has spread to much of the continental U.S. since its introduction in the 1800s. While it remains less common in the Southeast, the plant is “becoming more frequent in the Alabama landscape.”

The Extension Service warns that all parts of poison hemlock are poisonous to humans and livestock, as they contain alkaloids that can cause central nervous system depression, muscle paralysis, and, in severe cases, death by respiratory failure.

Even skin contact with the plant or its sap can cause irritation or dermatitis, especially if it enters a cut, the eyes, mouth or nose.

The Extension Service recommends wearing protective eyewear and a dust mask when near the plant and advises avoiding contact with the plant or its debris as well as fumes that can be generated by touching or cutting.

Poison hemlock may be found growing along with plants that are not dangerous.

“Nowadays, if you walk down the wrong ditch, you could be walking through that stuff,” Pounders said of poison hemlock. “I even read if you were to accidentally mow it, or use a weed eater, that you can volatize those compounds and they can get in the air where you’re in danger of breathing them.”

Poison hemlock found in Franklin County recently. PHOTOS BY JOEL POUNDERS

Safe removal

Pounders said he chooses to avoid direct contact with the plant.

“I’m not going to attempt to cut or handle it,” he said. “To me, it’s just too risky. If you were to accidentally ingest it, it could kill you.”

Pounders said one should wear full protection if they plan to handle the plant, but it’s a risk he said he’s not willing to take, which is why he took the herbicide route in destroying the plants he found.

“The easiest way to treat it and get rid of it is with an approved herbicide,” Pounders said.

He noted the risk posed by poison hemlock is far more severe than that of poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac, which usually result in skin irritation or rashes.

“Education is key because if people can learn to recognize it properly and treat it with a herbicide quickly, you’re more likely to be able to get rid of it,” he added.

“If you turn your back on it, you might go a few years and find your farm or other land covered in it,” Pounders added. “You don’t want to get behind in attacking the problem.”

Pounders emphasized the importance of awareness and taking appropriate action.

“I was able to treat the ones I found in five minutes and solve the problem,” he added. “The plants I found were within 50 yards of my house in a roadside ditch, and I have a young grandchild who likes to play outside, catching bugs and stuff. It’s a bad plant in terms of its potential to hurt you if you’re not aware.”