History of introduction and spread

Heracleum persicum is native to Türkiye, Iran and Iraq (EPPO, 2020). Its non-native distribution is restricted to northern countries of the EPPO region (e.g. Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden). Genetic analyses of plants from the native and introduced range show that European populations originated from different sources (Falahati-Anbaran et al., 2021).

Plant type

Seeds of the three species are illustrated in Figure 1.

FIGURE 1

Drawings of H. mantegazzianum, H. sosnowskyi and H. persicum seeds by J. C. Schou (in Nielsen et al., 2005).

Heracleum persicum can easily be confused with H. mantegazzianum.

Plants are most often 1–2 m in height, especially for newly established plants, but can reach 3–4 m. Plants often have more than one stem. Stems are purple, 1.5–2 cm thick, with large even areas of purple to purple-red colour at the base. Leaves are more divided than for H. mantegazzianum. They may be up to 2 m in length and deeply incised with very sharp points, with 2–3 pairs of lateral leaf segments and less deeply serrate. The whole plant smells of aniseed.

Umbels of H. persicum are more convex than those of H. mantegazzianum, which has flat umbels. Whereas H. mantegazzianum has especially large umbels with side umbels as well developed as the main umbel, and all umbels develop fruit, the side umbels of H. persicum are rather small compared with the main umbel and often do not develop fruit. According to Lars Fröberg (Fremstad & Elven, 2006), another characteristic, which may be used in distinguishing the two species, is the shape and placement of hairs on the two plants. Heracleum mantegazzianum has transparent, very curly hairs that stand out at 45 degrees from the stem. Heracleum persicum has somewhat stiffer and whiter hairs, which stand straight out from the stem.

The morphological characteristics of H. persicum vary according to the environmental conditions in which it grows, making identification difficult. Compared to H. mantegazzianum and H. sosnowskyi, there is a lack of studies on H. persicum (but see e.g. Zakhozhiy et al., 2022, Falahati-Anbaran et al., 2021).

Heracleum spp. hybridize easily, thus causing confusion in identification. The common Heracleum species in Europe, H. sphondylium, H. sibiricum and the corresponding common species in the USA, H. montanum Bartr. (= H. lanatum Michx.) are not easily confused with the invasive hogweeds, being much smaller, rarely over 2 m high, with grey-green, pubescent and less acutely toothed leaves.

General

The plant has a growth and development similar to those of H. mantegazzianum. Pollination by insects is common, but self-pollination also occurs. The species is spread by seeds and does not reproduce vegetatively. Because the side umbels of the plant are often poorly developed and do not always produce ripe fruits, the potential of H. persicum for seed production is thought to be inferior to that of H. mantegazzianum. The leaves of H. persicum wilt in the autumn, but the plant overwinters with buds below the soil surface. The plant needs one or more years to build up a nutrient reserve in its root system to be able to flower.

Habitats

Environmental requirements

Climatic preferences include temperate and cold climatic regions without a dry season, characterized by reasonable moisture and cold winters. Cold winters are required to ensure germination. Moist conditions are favoured for much of the year, but moderate summer droughts can be tolerated (Tiley et al., 1996). Recently, several studies focused on climate modelling were published, but most of the data come from GBIF or iNaturalist, so they predict a restricted spread to the east of Europe as a result of biased source data (Cuddington et al., 2022). 

Uses and benefits

Heracleum persicum has also been used as an ornamental.

The main pathway of introduction for all three species was plants for planting for use as ornamentals (especially for H. mantegazzianum) or as fodder crops or honey plants (especially for H. sosnowskyi in Russia and in the Baltic countries) (Laivinš & Gavrilova, 2003). Seeds may also be introduced involuntarily, as contaminants of soil and growing media, from used machinery, vehicles, plants for planting or footwear (EPPO, 2020).

Once introduced, Heracleum spp. reproduce very efficiently from seed, which are spread by wind (e.g. 4 m), water (up to several kilometres) and human activities (Laivinš & Gavrilova, 2003). Seeds can float along rivers for up to 3 days before they sink (Pyšek, 1994). In Latvia, seed has been observed to spread on frozen snow, where it forms a thin ice layer on the surface, and then wind can blow seeds over several kilometres (EPPO, 2020).

Heracleum mantegazzianum, H. sosnoswkyi and H. persicum have negative impacts on biodiversity and on the environment in general, on human health and tourism. 

Effects on plants

There are no records of direct impact on crops. Heracleum mantegazzianum is not normally a weed of crops but there are reports of its encroachment into crop fields, for example in potatoes in Sweden, and it has also been seen invading pastures. In Latvia alone, the total cost of the 2006–2012 control program of this species was estimated at 12 million EUR (Cabinet of Ministers Order No. 426, 2006). 

Heracleum persicum, as well as the two other Heracleum spp., block sunlight from penetrating to the undergrowth and suppress other vegetation. The leaves of H. persicum contain allopathic substances which may act as growth inhibitors on other plants as the leaves decompose (Myras, 1978). 

For these species, significant costs are incurred by the measures taken to control the weed in amenity and other areas and to turn the land back to agriculture, and this activity is also likely to increase soil erosion along stream banks where they occur. 

Heracleum spp. can create stands that may range in extent from square metres to hectares; small patches, linear stands or fringes can be found. The density of populations may also vary: in large stands, it ranges from sparse growth (1–3 adult individuals/10 m²) to almost entire ground cover (more than 20 adult individuals/10 m²) (Nielsen et al., 2005). The cover of H. mantegazzianum in the vegetation sampled in a German study varied between 1% and 95% (Thiele & Otte, 2007). In 31% of sampled plots, it was dominant, with cover exceeding 50%. The enormous height and leaf area of H. mantegazzianum are assumed to overgrow most (indigenous) plant species and hence to be in competition with them for light, absorbing up to 80% of incoming light in dense stands. A strong decline in species richness has been observed in abandoned grasslands and ruderal habitats in Latvia due to the presence of H. sosnowskyi (Nielsen et al., 2005). In amenity areas, established colonies compete strongly with and rapidly replace most other plants except trees. Along riverbanks, it can almost totally replace the natural vegetation and threaten biodiversity, including fauna associated with (native) plants, building a ‘giant hogweed landscape’ (Nielsen et al., 2005).

Nevertheless, since many stands of the species are linear, the biodiversity effects are often overestimated, as light can filter in from the sides (Starfinger & Kowarik, 2003). According to the study conducted in Germany by Thiele and Otte (2007), observed impacts on plant communities and local plant species richness are largely driven by successional changes following abandonment of land use or after large-scale disturbance. In the course of succession, competitive native tall herbs, such as Urtica dioica, have similar impacts on resident vegetation. Therefore, these impacts could be seen as symptoms of human-driven changes rather than a particular effect of H. mantegazzianum. Moreover, although H. mantegazzianum affects up to 10% of the area of suitable habitats in the study area, it appears that regional populations of native plant species have not been endangered until now, as these co-occurring species are very common.

Heracleum mantegazzianum can lead to riverbank erosion through the suppression or exclusion of native species, which play an important role in riverbank stabilization. When H. mantegazzianum plants in dense stands die off in winter, they leave bare soil that can be eroded by rainfall or winter floods. Deposition of eroded silt can alter substrate characteristics in rivers and, for example, render gravel substrates unsuitable for salmonid spawning (Thiele & Otte, 2007).

Environmental and social impact

Hybrids are possible in the genus Heracleum (Gavrilova, 2003). Hybrids between H. mantegazzianum and native H. sphondylium are reported from Great Britain (McClintock, 1975) and Germany (Ochsmann, 1996). They are found in sites where the two species grow together, although they are not numerous (Grace & Nelson, 1981; Stewart & Grace, 1984). Hybridization of both H. mantegazzianum and H. sosnowskyi with the native Heracleum sibiricum is expected in Lithuania (pers. comm. Z. Gudžinskas). Hybridization between H. mantegazzianum and H. sosnowskyi is possible (Klingenstein, 2006).

Heracleum mantegazzianum, H. sosnowskyi and H. persicum contain photosensitizing furanocoumarins. In contact with the human skin and in combination with ultraviolet light, a toxic reaction can occur 15 min after contact, with a sensitivity peak between 30 min and 2 h causing burning of the skin. After about 24 h, flushing or reddening of the skin (erythema) and excessive accumulation of fluid in the skin (edema) appear, followed by an inflammatory reaction after 3 days. Approximately 1 week later, a hyper-pigmentation (usually darkening of the skin) occurs, which can last for months. The affected skin may remain sensitive to ultraviolet light for years. Although such photosensitized toxic reactions can be caused by other plants in the EPPO region, these Heracleum sp. are particularly dangerous because of the high intensity of the reactions and the large size of the plants. The public is not generally aware that such risks exist, so these plants present a real hazard, especially to children.

Dense infestations can seriously interfere with access to amenity areas, riverbanks, etc., and along roadsides, large stands can reduce visibility and result in road safety hazards. Obstruction of lake shores and riverbanks by stands of H. mantegazzianum affects anglers, water sports enthusiasts, swimmers, bird watchers, hikers and those working along river systems (Thiele & Otte, 2007). The costs of maintenance of roads may increase due to H. sosnowskyi (A. Garkaje, pers. comm., 2008).

A German study from 2003 assessed the economic impact of H. mantegazzianum to be more than 12 million EUR annually in the country, distributed among the health system (1 050 000 EUR), nature reserves (1 170 000 EUR), road management (2 340 000 EUR), municipal management (2 100 000 EUR) and district management (5 600 000 EUR) (Reinhardt et al., 2003).

The EPPO Standard PM 9/9 (2) Heracleum mantegazzianum, H. sosnowskyi and H. persicum describes the control procedures aiming to contain and eradicate the three species.

Additional information can be found in Pergl (2017) and Rajmis et al. (2017).

Some countries developed dedicated legislation acts specifying control measures for these Heracleum species (e.g. Czech Republic https://invaznidruhy.aopk.gov.cz/zasady-regulace).

In the United Kingdom, legislation requires that landowners should control the plant and prevent further spread (Willoughby, 1996). 

Heracleum persicum is on the EPPO A2 list of pests recommended for regulation and and is listed as (EU) species of Union concern. 

All three Heracleum species are listed as (EU) species of Union concern, and as such their sale is prohibited and their movement in the EU is restricted. Phytosanitary measures for existing populations and preventing spread include managing the pathways. This can include preventing spread via unintentional transport of seeds or contaminated soils. Early detection is required to prevent the establishment of new populations and allow rapid eradication. Management practices can follow those detailed in the control section.

All websites were accessed in April 2026. 

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This datasheet was extensively revised in 2025 by the Dragana Marisavljevic Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Serbia and Jan Pergl Institute of Botany, Czech Republic. Their valuable contribution is gratefully acknowledged.

This datasheet was first published in the EPPO Bulletin in 2009 and revised in 2025. It is now maintained in an electronic format in the EPPO Global Database available at https://gd.eppo.int. The sections on ‘Identity’ and ‘Geographical distribution’ are automatically updated from the database in the online version of the datasheet.

EPPO (2009) Datasheets on  pests recommended for regulation. Heracleum mantegazzianum, Heracleum sosnowskyi and Heracleum persicum. EPPO Bulletin 39, 489–499 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2338.2009.02313.x

EPPO (2026) Datasheets on  pests recommended for regulation.  Heracleum mantegazzianum, Heracleum sosnowskyi and Heracleum persicum. EPPO Bulletin 56(1) https://doi.org/10.1111/epp.70049