Can you identify this large plant that popped up in our hosta bed? We did not know if it was a hogweed or cows parsnips which would require special careful extraction. Thank you.
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners regarding the identity of the mystery plant growing in your garden.
I used the plant ID website Pl@ntNet, https://identify.plantnet.org/ to help with the identification.
I believe this plant is the invasive weed known as common burdock, Arctium minus which has a hollow stem. If your mystery plant’s lower leaves have solid stems, it is great burdock, Arctium lappa.
Neither species is poisonous. In fact, parts of the plant are edible according to Seeds of Diversity.
Burdock produces numerous prickly seed-bearing burs, but not in the first year. The burs attach to anything brushing against them, and are difficult to fully remove.
To remove the plant, cut it back, leaving the main stem long enough to grasp, and then dig out the taproot. Make sure to remove the entire root, as the plant is known to grow back from pieces of root left in the ground.
The plant can be composted or placed in yard waste as long as there are no seed heads. Any seed heads should be placed in sealed garbage bags and put in household waste.
You might be interested in this article:
Ottawa Field Naturalists burdock fact sheet.
May 28, 2024