Cow parsnip is an herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial wildflower in the Apiaceae (carrot) family native to North America and temperate Asia. It is the only member of the genus Heracleum that is native to North America. In North Carolina it is found in the western mountains. It inhabits marsh edges, streamsides, and damp open meadows. The first year basal leaves are formed but the second year a 4-15 foot tall flowering stem emerges with a 6-8 inch compound umbel of many small white flowers. Its flowers attract a large diversity of pollinators. This plant prefers silty or sandy loams in full sun to partial shade but will tolerate other soils if enough moisture is provided. They need moist conditions but not constantly wet ones. The plant could be used on banks and slopes, pollinator gardens or in naturalised areas. Keep away from pets and children. Insects, Diseases, Other Plant Problems: No serious problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Obovate; Orbicular
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The lower to middle stem leaves are compound with 3 leaflets. Leaflets are 4-12 inches long with 3-5 lobes and serrated margins. Upper surface is green to yellow-green and rough with the undersides being paler with hairs along the veins. The upper stem leaves are simple, 3-lobed, serrated margins and 4 inches long and wide.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
6-8 inches across flat compound umbrels of many small white flowers. Blooms June-July
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Cream/Tan; Green; White
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
1/4 inch oval, flattened schizocarps are green with white margins. Mature to tan or brown and margins flatten into wings. They contain 2 seeds. Seeds are viable in the soil up to 15 years.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
The stem is grooved, hollow, and stout, green with purple splotches. White wooly hairs circle the stem at the base of the leaves. They have a strong pungent odor when crushed.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America, Asia
Distribution
AK , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SD , TN , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY Canada: AB , BC , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE
Wildlife value
Larval host of Anise swallowtail butterfly. Flowers attract many different pollinators
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Predatory Insects
Host plant for
Anise swallowtail butterfly
Play value
Wildlife Food Source; Wildlife Larval Host
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Roots; Stems
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Edibility
Young stems can be peeled, cooked and eaten. Roots can be cooked and eaten like parsnip.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Native Americans used the hollow stems to make deer calls