Cow-parsnip

Heracleum maximum

Native to Georgia (estimated)

Sap / sunlight hazard. Avoid skin and eye contact with sap. Sap exposure followed by sunlight can cause burns or dermatitis. Plant caution source

Hidden from default planting suggestions. Wildlife value and native status remain unchanged.

Photographs are not available yet.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

5CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including GA

Genus host records with ranges including GA · Heracleum

Elophila obliteralisWaterlily Leafcutter Moth
Papaipema harrisiiHeracleum Stem Borer Moth, Cow Parsnip Borer
Papaipema impecuniosaAster Borer
Papaipema insulidensRagwort Stem Borer
Papilio polyxenesBlack Swallowtail, Celery Caterpillar, Fennel Worm, Desert Black Swallowtail, Parsnip Swallowtail

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

5BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Heracleum

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0

0Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Beetles 9

Anthrenus castaneae
Centrinites strigicollis
Cryptorhopalum haemorrhoidale
Diabrotica 12-punctata
Euderces picipes
Mordellistena biplagiata
Orphilus glabratus
Trichius affinis
Trichius piger

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Flies 74

Agromyza latipes
Alophora fumosa
Archytas analis
Archytas aterrima
Belvosia unifasciata
Bibio albipennis
Blepharipeza leucophrys
Bombylius atriceps
Calythea albicincta
Chaetogaedia analis

Show all 74

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Adult butterflies / moths 2

Cercyonis alope
Phyciodes tharos

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Other wasps 42

Ancistrocerus tigris
Ancistrocerus unifasciatus
Anoplius illinoensis
Anoplius virginiensis
Ceropales fraterna
Chalybion caeruleum
Chlorion caeruleum
Ectemnius atriceps
Elasmus nigripes
Eumenes fraternus

Show all 42

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

Other insects 2

Corimelaena pulicaria
Phytocoris scrupeus

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

No records yet · Ants

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Apiaceae
Hardiness: Zones 4a–10a
Soil pH: Acidic
Flower color: White
Growth rate: Moderate
Growth habit: Several stems
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Summer
Fruit ends: Summer

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “June to July” · Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide · Nursery cultural guide; height in flower; moisture categories retained as printed
Flower color · “White” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Several stems” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 4a–10a” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “About 8 feet in flower” · Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide · Nursery cultural guide; height in flower; moisture categories retained as printed
Life cycle · “Biennial or perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
primary_flower_color · “white” · USDA PLANTS
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

American Hogweed; Cow Parsnip; Cow parsnip; Heracleum lanatum; Masterwort

Conservation status

Georgia rank	Not available
Global rank	G5
GA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

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Sources