Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Cow parsnip.
Heracleum maximum
Pronounced heh-RAK-lee-um MAK-si-mum
Also known as American cow-parsnip, American cowparsnip, American hogweed, Common Cowparsnip, Cow Parsnip, Cowparsnip, Indian celery, Pushki
Cow parsnip is a striking native perennial that brings a wild, woodland feel to damp, shaded areas. It produces large, umbrella shaped clusters of white flowers that pollinators absolutely love. You will find it growing naturally in moist meadows and along forest edges.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Perennial
- Light
- Partial shade to full sun
- Indoor light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Every 3 to 7 days
- Mature size
- 6 to 10 feet
- Growth rate
- Fast
Care
Keep the soil consistently moist as this plant thrives in damp environments. Watch for wilting during dry spells, which is a clear sign it needs more water. Be careful when handling, as the sap can cause skin rashes in sensitive individuals.
- Watering
- Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
- Feeding
- Apply a balanced organic fertilizer once in the spring.
- Pruning
- Cut back dead foliage in late autumn or early winter.
- Repotting
- Repot only if the plant becomes rootbound in a container.
- Soil
- Rich, moist, well draining soil
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 7.5
Safety
- Pets
- This plant can cause skin irritation or photosensitivity in pets if they brush against the sap.
How to identify it
- Large, deeply lobed maple shaped leaves
- Stout, hollow, and hairy stems
- Broad, flat topped white flower clusters
- Tall stalks reaching several feet high
Science
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Genus
- Heracleum
- Order
- Apiales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Also in
Is your cow parsnip looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.