Description
Cicuta maculata
Cicuta maculata is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family and know as several common names, including spotted water hemlock, spotted parsley, spotted cowbane, and the suicide root by the Iroquois. It is native to nearly all of North America, from northern Canada to southern Mexico. This is a perennial herb producing a hollow erect stem to a maximum height between 39 and 55 inches. The long leaves are made up of several lance-shaped, pointed, serrated leaflets. Each shiny green leaflet is ¾ inch to 4 inches long and the entire leaf may be up to 15½ inches long. The of white flowers is similar in appearance to many other species in the carrot family. It has many clusters of flowers. The dry tan-brown fruit is just fractions of an inch long and the plant is occasionally mistaken for parsnips; this is an often fatal error, as the Cicuta is extremely poisonous. Indeed, spotted water hemlock is considered to be North America’s most toxic plant. Dangerous to Humans and Livestock. We offer this plant because it’s a native perennial host for Tiger Swallowtail.
Native Perennial
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Light: Sun to Shade
Mature Growth: 8 feet high
Soil: Moist to average
Wildlife: Nectar-insects, Nectar-butterflies, Nectar-bees
Larval Host Plant for: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly
