Bulblet-Bearing Water Hemlock: A Beautiful but Deadly Native to Avoid
When it comes to native plants, not every species deserves a spot in your garden. Meet bulblet-bearing water hemlock (Cicuta bulbifera), a perennial forb that’s as dangerous as it is widespread across North America. While we typically celebrate native plants, this one comes with a serious warning label that every gardener needs to know about.
What is Bulblet-Bearing Water Hemlock?
Bulblet-bearing water hemlock is a native perennial forb that belongs to the carrot family. As a forb, it’s a non-woody plant that dies back to the ground each winter and regrows from its roots. Don’t let its delicate appearance fool you – this innocent-looking plant produces small white flowers arranged in umbrella-like clusters and has compound leaves that might remind you of other, harmless plants.
The bulblet-bearing part of its name refers to small bulblets that develop in the flower clusters, which is one of its distinguishing features that sets it apart from other water hemlocks.
Where Does It Grow Naturally?
This native species has an impressive range, naturally occurring across most of North America. You’ll find it growing wild in Alaska, throughout Canada (including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut), and across most of the United States from coast to coast, including states as diverse as Florida, Montana, Maine, and Oregon.
Why You Should Never Plant This Native
Here’s where we break from our usual native plant enthusiasm: bulblet-bearing water hemlock is considered one of the most poisonous plants in North America. Every part of this plant contains cicutoxin, a deadly compound that can be fatal to humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife. Even small amounts can cause severe poisoning, and there’s no antidote.
The plant is particularly dangerous because:
- It’s often mistaken for edible plants in the carrot family
- All parts are toxic, but the roots are especially concentrated with poison
- Even touching the plant can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals
- It remains toxic when dried
Habitat and Growing Conditions
As an obligate wetland plant, bulblet-bearing water hemlock almost always occurs in wetland environments. It thrives in marshes, along stream banks, in wet meadows, and around pond edges. The plant prefers consistently moist to wet soils and can tolerate both full sun and partial shade conditions.
It’s hardy across USDA zones 2-9, which explains its vast geographic distribution from the Arctic to the subtropics.
Safe Native Alternatives for Wetland Gardens
If you’re looking to create a beautiful wetland or water garden with native plants, there are many safer alternatives that provide similar ecological benefits without the danger:
- Wild bergamot – Attracts pollinators and has aromatic foliage
- Blue flag iris – Stunning purple flowers and wetland tolerance
- Cardinal flower – Brilliant red blooms loved by hummingbirds
- Swamp milkweed – Essential for monarch butterflies
- Turtlehead – Unique white flowers and host plant for butterflies
What to Do If You Encounter It
If you discover bulblet-bearing water hemlock growing wild on your property or nearby, it’s best to leave it alone and avoid the area. If removal is absolutely necessary for safety reasons, contact a professional who can handle it safely with proper protective equipment.
Never attempt to remove it yourself, and always keep children and pets away from areas where this plant might be growing.
The Bottom Line
While we’re passionate advocates for native plants, bulblet-bearing water hemlock reminds us that being native doesn’t automatically make a plant garden-worthy. This species plays its role in natural wetland ecosystems, but it has no place in cultivated gardens where safety should always be the top priority.
Stick to the many beautiful and safe native wetland plants available, and leave this dangerous beauty to thrive in its wild habitats where it belongs – far from curious hands and hungry wildlife.
