There's a plant growing behind a barn on our property that's very annoying. I would greatly appreciate if someone could help me determine what it is. I don't know much of anything about plants so I'll do my best to describe it. It grows very fast and spreads quickly. It has a straight main stalk that grows thick as it gets larger and is hollow inside. Any branches off the main stalk are the same way. When I cut them down with a weed-eater it makes a huge mess as the hollow inside seems to be very wet, and it produces an almost overpowering smell which I would compare to a salad. At the top and on the ends of the branches it has groups of tiny leaves and flowers. I have to weed-eat the area it's taken over almost every week during the summer or it just becomes unmanageable due to the speed that it grows and spreads. The main stalk grows so thick it becomes difficult to cut with the weed-eater if it gets too large. I live in the bluegrass region of KY if that assists in the identification. I will try to get a picture of it tomorrow. Edit: Pictures! Here's a group of the plants: Here's a closeup of the top of one of them: Let me know if you need a different view of them.
Are you sure that's what it is? I had seen the page for Queen Anne's Lace on wikipedia already but didn't think it was the right plant. This plant doesn't have the fine hairs and the umbrel looks very different. After looking at some of the similar plants mentioned on wikipedia it actually looks more like poison hemlock (Conium maculatum). On the page for poison hemlock it even notes "The plant is often mistaken for fennel, parsley or wild carrot although the characteristic stem hairs of the wild carrots are missing." The picture on the wikipedia page for poison hemlock looks pretty much dead on to the ones I took of the plants.
I'd get rid of that as soon as I could Daniel. Hit it with everything you have at your disposal. I'd say that it's most definately poison hemlock.
Ooooo, I've heard of that stuff Chelsea. It's in Ontario too, although I've been fortunate enough not to find any.
I have seen the Giant Hogweed, Netty. On my way to work, I see a nice house with lots of property and it is growing along their fence line. The Hogweed sure is impressive looking. I was planning to get some seeds from it but first I looked up the plant on-line. Sure glad I didn't! That plant is very toxic and what a mess it makes of your skin if you touch it. Makes me shudder to think I almost went near it. When the Hogweed blooms, I will take a picture of it.
