Now's the time to get rid of "Blister Plant"
Have you ever gone hiking and later discovered mysterious dark purple blisters on your ankles? You no doubt had a close encounter with Wild Parsnip, a deceptively beautiful plant that has become so common along Catskill Mountain roadways that in July and August, it often creates a solid wall of dainty yellow flowers floating airily on horizontal umbels.
Photosensitive chemicals
Perhaps because of the plants' beauty, they've been allowed to flourish. The problem with Pastinaca sativa, an invasive of European origin, is that its sap causes phyto-photo-dermatitis. The series of unfortunate events begins with a leaf or stalk breaking. If the milky sap comes in contact with your skin and then is exposed to sunlight within about 8 hours, the result is an unsightly blister that may last for up to 2 years. If the sap makes contact with your eyes, it could blind you. No one will be spared because it isn't an allergic reaction—it's a type of chemical burn that only occurs in reaction to light. If contact with the sap occurs after sundown and then you take a shower, you'll most likely avoid the ill effects.
Don't let it reseed
The tall flower stalks appear on second-year plants, and may reach 5 feet or more. By late summer, the plant is loaded with dozens of viable seeds. Now is the time to eliminate as many as possible. Fortunately, the stalks are dry this time of year. However, precautions should still be taken because green leaves may be growing at the base.
Wild Parsnip Removal Gear
- Gloves
- Long sleeves
- Long pants
- Socks (and shoes)
- Clippers
- Large garbage bag
Removal and Disposal
The easiest way to eradicate Wild Parsnip is to clip the seed heads and drop them into a garbage bag. If you don't want to leave Triffid-like, denuded stalks standing on your property, you can pull the entire plant up by the roots. (If you are going to pull them, you might want to take the added precaution of performing this activity early in the morning or at sundown.) The stalks bend easily and can be shoved into the bag.
Dried stalks and seedheads make great fire starters for the woodstove or fireplace. Before adding them to the compost pile, let the garbage bag sit out in full sun to roast the seeds. Likewise if you intend to throw them away.
Note the appearance of the leaves. Next spring when the new shoots appear, they'll be full of sap and ready to make mischief. If you can eradicate the seedheads for 2 years in a row, you'll successfully eliminate this dangerous plant from your yard.
Worse is on the Way
If you think Wild Parsnip is bad, hold onto your protective gear. There's a far more dangerous plant, Heracleum mantegazzianum—Giant Hogweed—that has been spreading its range steadily in our direction. It was recently spotted in Ulster, Sullivan and Otsego counties.