Abundant and tall cow parsnip

Observation by Lars Flora

The last couple years I have noticed more and more cow parsnip in the Anchorage bowl and ones that are very tall. It reminds me of walking on trails on the Kenai Peninsula where often the trails are overgrown with cow parsnip.

LEO Says

Cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum) also referred to 'wild celery' or 'pushki' tends to generate a lot of interest and discussion, especially when it becomes abundant. Cow parsnip can grow up to 10 feet tall and form dense stands, particularly along roadsides, trails, and riverbanks.The fact that the original report came from the Anchorage area and spurred conversations about its presence elsewhere, indicate that people across Southcentral Alaska are noticing the unusual conditions this season, and interested in its ecological role and safety concerns. Brushing cowparsnip against your skin can cause a reaction.This is because the juices contain compounds called furanocoumarins, that react with sunlight. As many Alaskan hikers have discovered, the combination of cow parsnip, bare skin and sunlight can result in a painful rash or even blistering; especially for people with sensitive skin. This reaction is called phytophotodermatitis (skin irritation from sap + sunlight). Contrary to its painful reputation, cow parsnip is also important as a food and medicine. The young the stalks are harvested, the outer layer removed, and the interior eaten as a green vegetable, or converted into a salve to (ironically) treat burns and skin irritations. For more on this important and fascinating plant, see links to the webpage at INaturalist, and Alaska Wilderness Medicines.

Comment by Meda Dewitt

The way to read that they are abundant and fuller is that there will be significant precipitation this coming winter, and that they are abnormally tall would say that the precipitation will stick and the snow will be deep. This also correlates to climate change, and the Anchorage bowl is warmer and wetter than it used to be.

Comment by Wilson Justin

Yes and it is beginning to get aggressive like everywhere else around Chistochina. These parsnips were not that noticeable up until after considerable changes took place in the landscape. Most of their growing places back in the sixties and seventies were along riverbanks or bordering trails. The higher elevation did not allow for too much height or large pods. About 6 to 8 inches high if I remember correctly. Now they are twice that in the home country. I’ve wondered what drive their abundance now perhaps the disappearance of permafrost or something else in the ground temperature or even the ongoing rainfall from 2006.

Comment by Kendra Zamzow

I drove from Chickaloon to Palmer today (7-16-25), and it seems like the cow parsnip is pretty darned abundant between Sutton and Palmer (along the Glenn Highway). Not sure if it’s taller or just looks that way because there is so much of it. It must cover at least 75% of the open areas along the side of the highway. But along the Glenn between Kings River and Chickaloon, and along Fish Lake Road and Chickaloon Road in Chickaloon it is only in isolated patches – lots of the side of the road is still daisies, yarrow, bluebells, a little lupine, a few dandelions left. So it does not appear to be taking over as much as in the Sutton to Palmer area. I also spoke with someone who is out west of the Susitna and they said both the cow parsnip and the Devil’s club are “Jurassic” – so yes, big and abundant! But she isn’t over there much so can’t tell if it’s an anomaly. Would be interesting to understand why the difference along the side of the Glenn Highway near Chickaloon versus near Sutton – whether it’s the difference in elevation or sunlight or what.