Carried by 13 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum) is a member of the Apiaceae (Carrot) family and the only member of this genus native to North America. Cow Parsnip is distributed throughout the continental United States and Alaska except the Gulf Coast and a few neighboring states. It is the only native member of this family to occur throughout the U.S. In California it occurs primarily in the northern half of the state. It is relatively large for an herb and features a large flower head consisting of the typical flat-topped umbels of the Carrot family. Chemicals in the plant may cause dermatitis in some individuals. It may be weedy or invasive in portions of its range.
Perennial herb
4 - 8 ft Tall
Upright
Moderate
White
Summer
Deer resistant
Partial Shade
Low
Easy
Tolerates cold to -10° F
Fast, Medium, Slow
Tolerant of a variety of soils as long as sufficient moisture is provided.
Soil PH: 5.2 - 6.7
4*, 5*, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Meadows, moist places, wooded or open
Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Subalpine Forest, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest
Butterflies and moths supported
3 confirmed and 3 likely
Old World Swallowtail
Papilio machaon
Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon