Britain is preparing for a record invasion of the poisonous giant hogweed due to mild and wet weather, experts warn.

The invasive species, dubbed Britain’s ‘most dangerous’ plant, has seen an early boom this year. Giant hogweed sap can cause severe burns that blister within 48 hours, often requiring hospitalisation and leaving permanent scarring.

In the past, landowners and gardeners who failed to remove the plant from their properties have been given offence notices. Now the UK is bracing for a “year of major spread” for giant hogweed after the plant was discovered much earlier in the year than expected.

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The plant, scientifically known as Heracleum Mantegazzianum, can grow up to six metres tall. Keith Gallacher, director of soil and tree care at Complete Weed Control in Scotland, noticed young shoots of the fast-spreading plant emerging from dormancy in March.

Mr Gallacher said: “Our teams noticed the much earlier than expected emergence of juvenile giant hogweed during routine inspections in East Lothian near Musselburgh. Given such an early onset and the rate of growth the plants are capable of, it is likely that 2024 will be a record year for this voracious invader.”

Like many invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam, it was brought to Britain as an architectural curiosity but has since escaped and, with no natural enemies, is growing into dense colonies, particularly along watercourses. “It is part of the Apiaceae family, which also includes carrots, parsnips, cumin, coriander and parsley, but its dense foliage prevents light from reaching the soil below, causing native plants to die and rapid soil erosion,” explained Mr Gallacher.

He believes the early emergence of giant hogweed may have been caused by spring rains – March saw 27% more rainfall. Because the plant can spread tens of thousands of seeds after flowering in mid-summer, Keith says eradicating giant hogweed requires a concerted and sustained effort by all landowners in an affected area.

He said: “If you wait too long, the plants will get bigger and harder to spray and more herbicide will be needed. But if you go too early and there is torrential rain like we have had in recent weeks, the herbicide will have little effect.”