Heracleum mantegazzianum, commonly known as
giant hogweed,
cartwheel-flower,
giant cow parsnip,
hogsbane or
giant cow parsley, is a plant in the family
Apiaceae. In New Zealand, it is also sometimes called
wild parsnip, or
wild rhubarb. It typically grows to heights of . Superficially, it resembles
common hogweed (
Heracleum sphondylium),
Heracleum sosnowskyi, or
garden angelica (
Angelica archangelica). It is
phototoxic and considered to be a
noxious weed in many jurisdictions. Giant hogweed is native to the
Caucasus region and Central Asia. It was introduced to
Britain as an
ornamental plant in the 19th century, and it has also spread to many other parts of
Europe, the
United States, and
Canada.