Download Wild Parsnip Best Management Practices

Noxious and Invasive Weed Program - http://www.mda.state.mn.us/weedcontrol
Prohibited Noxious Weeds
Wild Parsnip – Pastinaca sativa
L.
Noxious Weed Classification – Wild parsnip is listed as a Prohibited
– Control noxious weed in Minnesota. Efforts must be made to
prevent seed maturation and dispersal of plants into new areas.
Failure to comply with the Minnesota Noxious Weed Law
(Minnesota Statutes 18.75 -18.91) may result in an enforcement
action by the county or local municipality.
Origin – Native to Europe and Asia
Impacts – Wild parsnip is highly invasive and can outcompete native
vegetation, creating large monocultures and displacing native animal
and plant habitat. This plant is toxic to humans if the skin comes
in contact with the plant’s sap. Parsnip sap contains chemicals
that are activated by sunlight and can cause serious burns and
blisters. Always wear gloves and protective clothing when dealing
with wild parsnip.
Description – A monocarpic perennial
plant (spends several years in the rosette
stage, bolts, blooms and dies) that
typically grows to heights of 4 to 6 feet tall and reproduces by seed.
Seedlings emerge in the spring and spend their first years of growth as
rosettes. Eventually rosettes “bolt” and produce a stout branching stem.
Wild parsnip leaves alternate on the stem and
consists of 5-15 oval-shaped leaflets that are
sharply toothed. Many five-petaled yellow flowers form in flat-topped
umbels (shaped like upside-down umbrellas) at the end of stems. Wild
parsnip typically blooms from late May – July in Minnesota. Following
bloom, the plant begins to die and many flat seeds are produced in the umbels
and can remain viable in the soil for up to five years.
Habitat – Wild parsnip is most commonly found along Minnesota road and
railroad rights-of-ways, but is also found invading pastures, natural areas,
gravel pits, forest harvest areas, idle lands, and any other landscapes
subjected to disturbance.
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Distribution in Minnesota – Wild Parsnip is found throughout most of Minnesota. The southeastern ¼
of Minnesota has the highest populations, but the plant is starting to increase its density in the western
and northern parts of the state.
Control and Management – Hand-pulling of wild parsnip
plants is not recommended due to the hazards resulting
from skin exposure to the plant’s sap. No matter what
management you use, always wear clothing that covers
your skin and only handle plants with gloves.
Small patches may be weeded with a shovel by severing the tap root 1-2 inches below ground level prior
to seeding. Sites should be periodically re-checked following initial weeding to ensure that no resprouts exist or that other rosettes have recently bolted. Cut plants can be collected and burned or
composted on site.
Mowing can be performed when wild parsnip plants are first observed to be flowering in an area
(usually late May or early June). Repeat mowing will have to occur throughout the summer to cut
newly bolted plants and any re-sprouts. In most cases, mowing will have to be done on an infestation
for several years until the seedbank is exhausted. Wash all equipment after mowing wild parsnip plants
to prevent transporting seeds to new areas.
Chemical control using a selective broadleaf herbicide
can be very effective for controlling wild parsnip. If
you plan to use herbicide treatments, check with your
local University of Minnesota extension agent, co-op,
or landscape care expert for assistance and
recommendations. There are several businesses
throughout MN with state-certified herbicide
applicators that can be hired to perform chemical
applications for wild parsnip and other noxious weed
species. Herbicides work best if they are applied
during the early spring, on rosettes or newly bolted
plants, and the late fall, on rosettes. Several years of treatment may be required to control the overall
population until the seedbank is exhausted or other vegetation begins to compete with the remaining
wild parsnip.
PERSISTENCE IS THE KEY!
Whether you choose to manage wild parsnip by weeding with a shovel, mowing, herbicides, or a
combination of techniques, several years of commitment are necessary to ensure that the population
has decreased significantly and is not a serious problem.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, an alternative form of communication is available upon request. TDD: 1-800-627-3529
An Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider