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Cow parsley or hemlock?
Cow parsley (*Anthriscus sylvestris*) is the common white froth on UK verges in April and May. Hemlock (*Conium maculatum*) is a later, taller, purple-blotched umbellifer and is poisonous. Never tell them apart by tasting.
This is identification, not foraging. If poisoning is suspected, get emergency medical help. Do not use a quiz or a blog post as a field toxicology manual.
Characters people actually use
**Cow parsley**: flowers early (often April). Stem green, furrowed, with short hairs. Plant usually waist-high or lower on a hedge bank. The overall look is soft.
**Hemlock**: flowers later (often June–July). Stem smooth and hairless with purple blotches. Plant can be much taller. Crushed foliage is often described as mouse-like or unpleasant. Woodland Trust and field guides treat the blotched stem as the character to learn.
Hogweed is the other plant people meet: broader, rougher, later than cow parsley, with larger umbels. Giant hogweed is a different, scheduled problem plant — look up official guidance if you think you have that species, and do not touch sap.
Why lookalikes matter
White umbels are the classic “they all look the same” group. The fix is the same as buttercups: two or three names, stem and season, not twenty photographs of flowers only.
Rosette will show you umbellifers with taxonomic wrong answers. Play a round for the visual habit. For anything you might eat, use a trusted flora and a human expert — not a game.
Questions
How do I tell cow parsley from hemlock?
Cow parsley is usually shorter, flowers from April, and has a furrowed green stem with downy hairs. Hemlock is taller, flowers later, and has a smooth, hairless, purple-blotched stem and an unpleasant smell when crushed. Never taste either plant.
Is hemlock common in the UK?
It is widespread but much less often the plant on an ordinary May verge than cow parsley. Still treat any unfamiliar umbellifer as not food.
What should I do if I think someone has eaten hemlock?
Contact emergency services. This page is for visual identification only and is not medical advice.
Are there other white umbels I should know?
Yes: hogweed, upright hedge-parsley, rough chervil and ground-elder. Learn cow parsley first, then add one species at a time.