Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Elaphoboscum sativum
- Phonetic Spelling
- pas-TIN-ih-kah sa-TEE-vah
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Wild parsnip is a biennial cool-season vegetable in the carrot (Apiaceae) family and is native to Eurasia. It can be found growing in open habitats such as prairies, savannas, fens and along roadsides. It has become a nuisance plant in parts of the USA. All parts of this plant contain furocoumarins which can make skin sensitive to light causing burns so be sure to wear gloves, long sleeves and long pants when dealing with it. Modern cultivars have been derived from this plant and are grown as annuals.
The leaves are in a rosette the first year and are large and compound. In the second year, wild parsnip sends up a tall stem with clusters of yellow flowers, produces seeds and then dies. The plant is adaptive to a wide range of conditions but does need sun. Only the tap root from the first year is edible
Control is by removing flower and seed heads to prevent reseeding and herbicides are effective on the basal rosettes.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Can be weedy and has the potential to be invasive. Poisonous and causes severe dermatitis.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pastinaca
- Species:
- sativa
- Family:
- Apiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Distribution:
- Throughout
- Wildlife Value:
- The nectar attracts flies, wasps, beetles, and ants.
- Edibility:
- The fleshy sweet taproot from first-year plants is edible, either raw or baked, boiled, pureed, roasted, fried, grilled, or steamed. It can be used in soups and stews.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Cool Season Vegetable
- Edible
- Poisonous
- Vegetable
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is elongated and dry with a single winged seed that is dispersed by the wind
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Compound umbrels are 3-8 inch across and consist of tiny yellow flowers with 5 curled petals and 5 yellow stamens around a greenish-yellow center. Blooms laste spring to early summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The large alternate compound leaves are in a basal rosette the first year and are single pinnate. They can be up to 18 inches long and 6 inches wide with long stems. They consist of 9 leaflets that are 3 inches long and 2 inches across. Leaflets can have margins with cleft lobes and coarse teeth. The upper compound leaves that appear in the second year are smaller with shorter stems. Leaflets are ovate or elliptic and 3 inches long by 2 inches wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Tall green hollow stems are glabrous, angular, and furrowed
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Causes skin to become light sensitive, leading to severe burns and blisters. Wear protective equipment when dealing with this plant
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Furanocoumarin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
