Be sure to report invasive giant hogweed in your area

An invasive species is an organism that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area. Following their introduction, invasive species often compete with existing native species of plant and animals, limiting resources, altering habitats and reducing native biodiversity.

While some invasive species were introduced to gardens for ornamental purposes, some invasive species were also accidentally introduced as they came in as contaminants on products or got a ‘lift’ from a vehicle.

Invasive species Ireland, managed by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, provide national coordination and management of information on Ireland’s non-native invasive species, and to support the National Parks and Wildlife Service with the implementation and reporting on the EU Invasive Alien Regulations (1143/2014). Species categorised as invasive are done so based on a risk assessment. One plant that was introduced to Ireland over 50 years ago for ornamental purposes, and is not considered a high risk invasive species, is giant hogweed (Feabhrán capaill as Gaeilge).

Giant hogweed was introduced from the Caucasus, a transcontinental region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. You may typically find it growing in damp, open margins of river banks where its seeds can readily disperse downstream but, increasingly, it is found at field boundaries and along road verges. Giant hogweed can grow up to five metres tall, with rough serrated leaves one and a half metres wide, and large umbrella-like cream-white flowers that can yield many tens of thousands of viable seeds.

Giant hogweed is known to inflict horrible blisters or burns on anyone unwise enough to touch it. Its size shades native plants, eventually killing them, this in turn can lead to erosion along the banks of rivers as giant hogweed is a perennial plant, which dies back in winter leaving no native vegetation to protect the bank edges.

If you identify invasive species in your community please do not disturb it. To learn more and report your invasive species record visit www.invasives.ie.

If you would like help identifying a wildlife observation in your community you can contact me on [email protected].

- Nuala Madigan from the Bog of Allen Nature Centre