Cow parsnip is known in our field guides as Heracleum lanatum, although it sometimes has other names. The flowers are typically displayed in big, flattish inflorescences called “umbels,” each umbel ...

In the sunlight, heat and moisture of July, roadside plants abound. During wet years, they become especially thick and tall. It is easy for the passerby to see purple of fireweed and milkweed, yellow ...

While out exploring, Evie came across Cow Parsnip—a towering wildflower that’s a magnet for pollinators. Learn how this native plant draws in bees, flies, and other insects, all searching for pollen ...

Of all the people I know, I suspect Joe Derek is the only one who would reach out to tell me he has 50 cow parsnip plants growing in his yard. I did not initially share his excitement for them, at ...

A hazardous, invasive plant that can cause severe burns is spreading rapidly across North America, threatening native ecosystems and human safety. Wild parsnip (and its cousin, cow parsnip) form dense ...