Weed of the Week 

Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa L. 

Common Names: parsnip, wild parsnip 

Native Origin: Eurasia

Description: An erect herbaceous plant in the carrot family (Apiaceae) 

growing 4 or more feet in height. Seedlings emerge from February through 

April, form rosettes and grow vegetatively for one or more years before they 

form an aerial shoot (bolt) and flower. Rosettes bear upright leaves 

averaging 6 inches in height. Leaves are pinnately compound and leaflets 

are oval to oblong, hairless with saw-toothed edges and arranged in pairs 

along stalk. Hundreds of small yellow flowers are produced on each plant 

and bloom from June to mid-July. Large yellow seeds are round, flat and 

slightly ribbed. Plants die after producing seeds. Seeds can remain viable in 

the soil for four years. The root system is made up of a long thick yellow to 

white taproot. 

Habitat: It is located in a wide range of growing conditions including dry to wet prairies, oak openings and 

calcareous fens (rare wetland community watered by mineral-rich, alkaline groundwater or seeps). It is 

commonly found along roadsides, pastures, and in abandoned fields. 

Distribution: This species is reported from states shaded on Plants 

Database map. It is reported invasive in MI, OH, PA, TN, VA, and WI. 

Ecological Impacts: Wild parsnip invades and modifies open disturbed 

habitats. Once an infestation begins, it can spread across an area to form 

dense stands. 

Caution: This plant contains chemicals in the leaves, stems, flowers and 

fruits that can cause intense, localized burning, rash, and/or blistering when 

coming in contact with the skin. Contacting with the sap may increase the 

skin’s sensitivity to sunlight. The resulting dermatitis is more like a burn 

than a rash and is sometimes referred to as false or artificial sunburn. 

Control and Management: Wear gloves, long sleeves, and long pants for protection 

when working to control this plant. 

• Manual- Parsnip is among the first plants to emerge and may be easily detected and 

dug out. For large populations, a power bush cutter can be used to cut plants at the 

base of the stem before flowering, however, plants may resprout. Burning does not 

harm plants, they simply resprout. 

• Chemical- It can be effectively controlled using any of several readily available 

general use herbicides such as glyphosate or triclopyr to spot treat basal rosettes. 

Follow label and state requirements. 

• Natural Enemies: The parsnip webworm damages some individual plants severely, 

but is not known to devastate whole patches. 

References: www.forestimages.org, http://plants.usda.gov, www.nps.gov/plants/alien, 

www.botany.wisc.edu/wisflora/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=PASSAT, 

www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/invasive_species/passat01.htm, 

http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/documnts/pastsat.html, 

Czarapata, Elizabeth J. Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest, An Illustrated Guide to their Identification and 

Control, 2005 p. 70-72, www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecordframe2.asp?id=540, 

www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/102/43/15529 

Produced by the USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Staff, Newtown Square, PA. WOW 08-28-06 

Invasive Plants website: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants