Flower profile

Wild parsnip

Pastinaca sativa

Introduced in the lower 48

Wild parsnip is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

45states

3of our state lists

10,206U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Iowa, Vermont, Wisconsin

🚫

Regulated invasive plant in Wisconsin. It's on that state' official invasive plant list (Wisconsin: Restricted invasive species). Please don't plant or share it there. ^{NR 40}

Quick look

The parsnip is a root vegetable closely related to carrot and parsley, all belonging to the flowering plant family Apiaceae. It is a biennial plant usually grown as an annual. Its long taproot has light cream colored skin and flesh, and, left in the ground to mature, becomes sweeter in flavor after winter frosts. In its first growing season, the plant has a rosette of pinnate, mid-green leaves.
From Wikipedia's article Parsnip, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Apiaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a biennial, perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 45 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Wisconsin, Vermont and Iowa. ^NatureServe
In Wisconsin, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. ^iNaturalist
In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,680 research-grade sightings of it in Wisconsin, ranking #94 among the 109 flowers on our Wisconsin list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,541 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #53 among the 110 flowers on our Vermont list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 523 research-grade sightings of it in Iowa, ranking #52 among the 109 flowers on our Iowa list. ^iNaturalist

State flower gift ideas

This one is a regulated invasive plant, so here are state flower gifts instead.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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State flower print
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Birth-flower necklace
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Wildflower seed favors
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Botanical tea towel
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Pressed-flower frame
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Flower-garden mug
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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,073 records)

Bloom time in each of our 3 states

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Wisconsin	Introduced	June–August	1,680
Vermont	Introduced	June–August	1,541
Iowa	Introduced	May–August	523

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Wisconsin: Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Wisconsin. ^{NR 27.03}
Vermont: Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. ^{Vermont E&T list}
Iowa: Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Iowa. ^{IAC 571-77.3}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: medium). Poisonous parts: flowers, fruits, leaves, sap/juice, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “Causes skin to become light sensitive, leading to severe burns and blisters. Wear protective equipment when dealing with this plant” They also note: “The fleshy sweet taproot from first-year plants is edible, either raw or baked, boiled, pureed, roasted, fried, grilled, or steamed. It can be used in soups and stews.” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsCan be a problem for cats, children and dogs

NC State Extension flags it as a problem for cats, children and dogs. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. ^{NC State Extension}

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records wild parsnip in 45 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Wisconsin counties with USDA records: Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marinette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Pierce, Racine, Richland, Rock, Shawano, Sheboygan, Taylor, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Grand Isle, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Windham, Windsor.

Iowa counties with USDA records: Buchanan, Calhoun, Carroll, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Crawford, Dubuque, Fayette, Greene, Lee, Madison, Mahaska, Marshall, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Page, Plymouth, Poweshiek, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Story, Tama, Taylor, Washington, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury.

More Wisconsin flowers

Queen Anne's lace (wild carrot)

Daucus carota

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in WI: July–September

Common cowparsnip

Heracleum maximum

Native

🌼 Blooms in WI: May–July

Poison hemlock

Conium maculatum

Introduced

🌼 Blooms: April–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PASA2.
iNaturalist, Pastinaca sativa: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Parsnip (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Wisconsin: Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03).
Wisconsin: Wisconsin invasive species rule (Wis. Admin. Code NR 40.04 prohibited, NR 40.05 restricted).
Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
Iowa: Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3).
Iowa: Iowa noxious weeds (Iowa Code § 317.1A).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Pastinaca sativa (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Tom Scavo via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.