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Native Plant Database

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Sium suave (Hemlock waterparsnip)
Smith, R.W.

Sium suave Walt.

Hemlock waterparsnip, Water Parsnip

Apiaceae (Carrot Family)

USDA Symbol: SISU2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Fragrant, sometimes aquatic plant with flat clusters of tiny dull-white flowers and strongly ridged stems.

The roots of this plant can be boiled and eaten as a cooked vegetable, but because of the plants resemblance to the deadly Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata), they are best left alone.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NV , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE
Native Distribution: Throughout East, except Arctic; also in much of West.
Native Habitat: Wet meadows and thickets, muddy shores.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet

Benefit

Use Other: Some tribes believed that smoke from common water-parsnip seeds could drive away evil spirits trying to steal a hunters luck. (Kershaw)

Water-parsnip is so similar to its highly poisonous relatives (such spotted water-hemlock), it is better left alone. (Kershaw)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Supports Conservation Biological Control

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Sium suave in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Sium suave in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sium suave

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-06-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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