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Stems of Poison Hemlock are covered with purple spots at all growth stages. Removing this toxic weed is best in the spring when plant is young. Burning, cutting or chopping down mature plants or weed eating the plant will cause particles to become airborne making it easier to inhale the poison.
By Jim McKeirnan
Garfield County Weed Coordinator
Special to the East Washingtonian
POMEROY–Poison Hemlock is extremely prevalent in Garfield County this year. It tends to thrive in damp, moist soil. We have just experienced a very wet spring in our county. Because of the damp conditions of the soil, Poison Hemlock is abundant in the area. Some large patches have developed. As these patches mature and dry out, it takes very little disturbance (like walking through the area) to create a dust of pollen which, when inhaled, can make you ill or worse, especially if you are prone to asthma or COPD. Poison Hemlock is thought to be the poison that killed Caesar.
All parts of the plant are considered poisonous including the seed, flowers, leaves, stem and roots. The plant is a biennial native to Europe and grows six to eight feet tall. Umbels of white flowers sit atop the plant. Blooming begins in May extending to July. It prefers growing in moist soil along ditches, roadsides, creek banks or disturbed areas. Ingestion by humans or livestock of the poisonous alkaloids*, found in Poison Hemlock will cause respiratory failure. Children have been poisoned when using the hollow stems as whistles. A recent news story tells of the near death of a man who used a chainsaw (to cut them down??) As a result of breathing in the particulates, he came close to dying from respiratory failure.
Poison Hemlock should not be burned as the smoke can carry alkaloids* causing respiratory difficulty. There is no antidote for the poison. The medical community can only treat for symptoms. Wear gloves, long sleeved shirts and long pants when doing any work in an area of brush and Poison Hemlock. Using a chainsaw, mower or weed eater will aerosolize bits of the plant increasing the chances of breathing in the poison.
Because it is a biennial, the plant generally won't flower and make seed until the second year of growth. It works well to spray the first year seedlings or just spray all of it early in the spring with a mixture of triclopyr and 2-4D. If all you have is 2-4D this will work fairly well if mixed with spreader sticker and wet down thoroughly. Ask your field agent, I am sure he will have a suggestion for control. I have also spread bio-control agent in past years. It does work, but not until the plant is close to maturity.
*Webster Dictionary–Alkaloid: any number of heterocycle colorless, crystalline, bitter organic substances such as caffeine, morphine, quinine, and strychnine, having alkaline properties and containing nitrogen, they are found in plants sometimes animals. They are used as drugs and stimulants but can have a strong toxic effect on the human or animal system.
