Wild chervil concerns raised with plant in bloom in Grey County

An invasive weed is once again in full bloom in Grey County and a local landowner and environmental steward wants to bring awareness to the plant that chokes out native plant species and can affect forage crop quality.

Wild chervil, which is native to Europe but can now be found throughout the United States and Canada, has gained a foothold in the county over the past decade, commonly found along roadsides and fencerows. But left unchecked, it can take over entire fields, something Gord Edwards is all too familiar with.

Edwards, a retired physician who is involved in the project to naturalize the Owen Sound hospital site, said Tuesday that he had the plant essentially take over a woodlot he owns in Georgian Bluffs a few years ago.

“What happens with wild chervil is that it is like phragmites,” Edwards said Wednesday in reference to another invasive plant that has taken hold along local waterways. “Nothing else can compete with it and it takes over completely. And then it produces an abundance of seeds and it spreads.”

Edwards said when he first started noticing the plant around a barn on his property he didn’t really know what it was and didn’t pay much attention to it. But after five or six years the plant had spread across the property. Edwards, who calls Chatsworth home, said he notices it just about everywhere he goes in the area now.

“When you drive down 6 and 10 between Owen Sound and Chatsworth or along the backroads in Georgian Bluffs, it is just shocking,” said Edwards. “If we don’t deal with it it just becomes a bigger problem.”

A large patch of wild chervil along Grey Road 18 in Georgian Bluffs on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Rob Gowan The Sun Times

Wild chervil, also called cow parsnip is a biennial plant and is spread primarily through seed dispersal. It is a popular plant found in European wildflower mixes, which is believed to be how it spread to North America. Wind, water, birds and other wildlife are other methods of spread.

It grows an average of one to four feet, but can grow over six feet tall. Stems are hollow with soft hairs, while the leaves are fern-like, divided into leaflets.

The cluster of flowers on top of the stems are white with five petals each and the plant can be confused with Queen Anne’s Lace or wild carrot, though they are actually quite different upon closer inspection.

The weed is difficult to control because of its large taproot and resistance to many herbicides. It can also re-sprout if pieces are left behind during removal.

Edwards said he thinks he finally conquered the plant on his property, but it took several years to eradicate.

Gord Edwards surveys a large patch of wild chervil along Grey Road 18 in Georgian Bluffs on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Rob Gowan The Sun Times

And he is disappointed to see it so plentiful in other places and wants landowners to be aware that they can help stop its spread by staying on top of it by mowing or removing it before it goes to seed. He is aware of some jurisdictions in the U.S., including King County in Washington State, where it has been declared a noxious weed, thus requiring property owners to control the plant on their land.

Some municipalities in Grey County currently target the weed along their roadways.

The Town of the Blue Mountains has had wild chervil sprayed along its roadsides this spring using Truvist, an approved herbicide shown to be effective in controlling the weed along town road allowances.

Georgian Bluffs is also using Truvist along its roadways to control noxious weeds, including wild chervil. Its program commences June 10, weather permitting, and ends July 7.

Rob Hatten, communications manager with Grey County, said Wednesday that the county has changed its management plan for wild chervil this year.

In the past, the county has sprayed the weed quite heavily along its roads, while this year it is taking a more targeted approach of hot spots.

“We know where our more problematic areas are, where it is thicker, so we are going to be doing more natural management like mowing, digging it out, that sort of thing,” said Hatten.

Wild chervil is a weed that can essentially be found countywide now, Hatten said, adding that it seems to be heavier in the more northern municipalities.

“We will look after it on the roadsides as best as we can,” said Hatten. “Our controllers are driving around and flagging areas where we do see it, so we can go and manage it.”

Hatten said that the county also encourages residents and others to manage invasive species on their properties, including wild chervil.

“The only way we are going to be able to slow the spread or even eventually eradicate it is if we take care of it on both sides of the fence,” said Hatten. “If we just take it out on the roadway side that is not going to solve the problem.”

The county welcomes the public to report areas of concern they may have by calling 1-800-567-4739 or sending an e-mail to roads@grey.ca. The county can then go check the area and deal with it appropriately.

The Province of Ontario would also like to know of locations of the plant through the Ontario Invasive Plant Council. Locations of the plant can be reported through the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters/Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 or an e-mail can be sent to info@ontarioinvasiveplants.ca