A new map shows where in the UK there are hotspots for the dangerous plant known as giant hogweed.

The main places tend to be in and around built up areas including London, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

In contrast, there are very few hotspots in Northern Ireland – and none at all on the Isle of Man or the Isle of Wight.

Giant hogweed, or heracleum mantegazzianum as it is officially called, is a non-native plant in the UK that is commonly found on British river banks and can be dangerous to humans. 

People have reported breaking out in painful blisters when they’ve been in contact with the giant plant.

The interactive map, created by PlantTracker, has red dots showcasing giant hogweed ‘hotspots’ all around the UK, so people know to be particularly careful when out and about in those areas.

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Other areas where giant hogweed seems most prolific according to the map include Birmingham, Middlesborough and Newcastle.

There are hotspots all over so it’s difficult to determine a north-south divide, although there appear to be none at all in southern Cornwall or in large swathes of Scotland.

As well as knowing where to watch out for it, it’s important to know what giant hogweed looks like and how it can affect you.

The plant is not native to the UK and was first introduced into the country from southern Russia and Georgia in the 19th century.

It can reach up to 10ft (3m) in height and can be easily mistaken for cow parsley – one of the reasons that it is a danger to those who are unaware of the risks associated with touching hogweed.

In the New Journal of Botany published in 2013, giant hogweed was described as ‘a threat to public health.’ 

The Royal Horticultural Society explains that the primary danger posed by giant hogweed to humans is the plant’s sap, which if it gets onto the skin and the skin is exposed to sunlight, can cause burns and blistering.

Their website states: ‘Chemicals in the sap can cause photodermatitis or photosensitivity, where the skin becomes very sensitive to sunlight and may suffer blistering, pigmentation and long-lasting scars.’

If your skin has come into contact with giant hogweed you should ensure you wash it immediately, keep out of the sun and seek medical advice. 

Similar to cow parsley, giant hogweed is a long-stemmed green plant with white flowers, however, it does have some features that differentiate it from the harmless fern-like foliage.

Firstly, giant hogweed is a great deal taller than cow parsley. Its leaves and flowers are also a great deal larger than cow parsley and other similar plants – so look out for any plant that resembles an oversized or giant cow parsley or rhubarb plant. 

Giant hogweed also have hollow green stems that feature purple blotches and stiff, white hairs and huge leaves with irregular, jagged edges. It secretes a dangerous sap from its stems, both while rooted and extracted.

The sap can cause severe burns and skin damage when it makes contact with skin, often resulting in blistering at the site of contact.

Some reactions can develop phytophotodermatitis, meaning that contact with the plant chemicals can cause skin inflammation when exposed to sunlight.

A teenager was recently left with painful blisters – including one as large as an orange – after brushing past ‘Britain’s most dangerous plant’.

Ross McPherson even struggled to dress himself and fainted from pain when the blisters had to be removed without anaesthesia.

The 16-year-old believes he brushed past giant hogweed while cycling near his home in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland.

A few hours later his hand turned red and soon after that painful blisters erupted, prompting a visit to A&E where he was treated for serious burns.

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