Persian hogweed – Heracleum persicum
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- Invasive alien species
- TNV - alien, new, resident
- 3 - spreading in the wild; completely of cultivated origin
The map represents observations of this taxon, but it may not be used as a distribution map.
- Total squares
The map represents observations of this taxon, but it may not be used as a distribution map.
- Occurs on the basis of occurrence data – not an expert evaluation
Distribution in Finland
In Finland, Persian hogweed was initially introduced as a garden plant due to the large size and spectacular inflorescence. It occurs especially in Southern Finland, but it has also been found in Rovaniemi and Ylitornio. Persian hogweed is less common in nature than giant hogweed. Some of the existing populations are remnants from cultivation. They have spread from gardens to nearby forests, roadsides, wastelands and uninhabited plots along with garden waste and transferred land masses. They are also found in nature reserves and in the vicinity of endangered species.
Origin and general distribution
As its name implies, Persian hogweed originates in the territory of Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. It was introduced to England as an ornamental plant in 1829. Only seven years later, its seeds were planted in Northern Norway, where it spread fast and was named “the palm tree of Tromsø”.
Description text authors:
Terhi Ryttäri, SYKE
The chart shows temporal distribution of the observations, which is not the same as population increase/decrease.
The following biotope data have been recorded for observations of this taxa