Spotted Water Hemlock
(Cicuta maculata)
Spotted Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata)
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mfeaver
CC BY 4.0
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mfeaver
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CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: mfeaver | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: mfeaver | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2020-06-29T07:07:54-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Cicuta maculata, commonly known as Spotted Water Hemlock, is a deciduous biennial or perennial herb native to wet meadows, stream banks, and marshy areas of North America. It can grow to a height of 1 to 1.5 meters (3 ft 3 in to 4 ft 11 in) with a hollow, erect stem. The leaves are compound with several lance-shaped, pointed, serrated leaflets, each leaflet being 2 to 10 centimeters (1 to 4 inches) long, and the entire leaf can reach up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) long. The plant produces an inflorescence of small, white flowers arranged in a compound umbel, typical of the Apiaceae family, which bloom in the summer. The flowers are not particularly showy but are attractive to a variety of insects. The fruit is a dry, tan-brown schizocarp, a few millimeters long.
Spotted Water Hemlock is known for its highly toxic properties, containing cicutoxin, especially in its roots, and is considered one of the most poisonous plants in North America. Despite its toxicity, it is sometimes used in naturalized plantings in wetland restoration projects due to its native status and ability to thrive in wet conditions. It requires full sun to part shade and prefers moist to wet soils with slow to medium drainage. While not typically grown in home gardens due to its poisonous nature, it is important for gardeners to recognize this plant to avoid accidental poisoning.CC BY-SA 4.0
Spotted Water Hemlock is known for its highly toxic properties, containing cicutoxin, especially in its roots, and is considered one of the most poisonous plants in North America. Despite its toxicity, it is sometimes used in naturalized plantings in wetland restoration projects due to its native status and ability to thrive in wet conditions. It requires full sun to part shade and prefers moist to wet soils with slow to medium drainage. While not typically grown in home gardens due to its poisonous nature, it is important for gardeners to recognize this plant to avoid accidental poisoning.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 1-4 feet
- Width: 1-3 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: White
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium, High
- Drainage: Slow, Medium
Common Uses
Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Wet meadows, stream banks, and marshy areas of North America
Other Names
Common Names: Spotted Parsley, Suicide Root, Musquashroot, Spotted Cowbane, Spotted Water-Hemlock, Water-Hemlock, Common Water Hemlock, Poison Parsnip, Spotted Parsley, Spotted Waterhemlock
Scientific Names: , Cicuta maculata, Cicuta curtissii, Cicuta maculata var. curtissii, Cicuta virosa var. maculata, Cicuta curtisiae, Cicutaria maculata,
GBIF Accepted Name: Cicuta maculata L.