The Nature Conservancy of Canada is trying to raise awareness about a dangerous plant you may stumble upon this summer.
The NCC is urging people across the country to document sightings of Giant hogweed, a the towering green plant which is considered Canada’s most dangerous plants as it poses a real human health concern.
The non-native plant usually grows up to four to six metres in height.
It features large clusters of white flowers at the top. It grows along streams, roadsides, ditches, in open fields and woodlands.
The not-for-profit land conservation group says the plant is visible now and flowering so it is easy to identify.
The plant’s clear, toxic sap can cause rashes, blistering, third-degree burns and temporary and even permanent blindness if it touches the body and is then exposed to the sun.
Infestations have been spreading in Canada with discoveries in the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec, across Ontario and BC.
It has been found in many urban centres such as Greater Toronto and Ottawa.
Giant hogweed was brought to Canada from Eastern Europe and Asia in the 1940s as a decorative, horticultural plant.
This invasive plant is spreading around the world and now occurs in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
You can report sightings of the plant on the iNaturalist.ca app by downloading it.
The app allows you to take a picture of a species and share it with plant experts who can help identify it.
The app will automatically map it as well so people can see where giant hogweed is spreading.