A toxic plant hazardous to anyone who simply touches it has been found in three Brampton parks.

Giant hogweed turned up in a Toronto backyard recently, and has now been found here— in wooded areas of Peelton Heights Park, Bach Park and Ray Lawson Valley, all in southwest Brampton. It was immediately removed and destroyed by city parks staff, according to city officials.

The sap from the stem, leaves and hairs can cause severe blisters, burns, or temporary blindness, according to health officials in British Columbia where official warnings have been issued about the weed.
The discovery here has prompted Brampton city officials to remind residents to stay on marked pathways and maintained trails, and to keep an eye out for the distinctive plant. Its stalk is dark red and it can grow up to six metres (20 feet) high, with large white flowers in an umbrella-shaped head.  The leaves are toothed.

"It's a very large plant and it's an invasive species," said Brampton spokesperson Gordon Smith.

The weed was found and identified last week in one park by the city's horticulturalists, who then searched other parks and discovered it in the other two locations.

"They were off the beaten path, they were not on the trails," Smith said.

Despite precautions taken in removing the weeds, one city employee did suffer a small burn after some of the sap ended up on his jacket, Smith said.

Anyone who spots the weed in parks, greenbelts, or other public areas should call the city's parks department as soon as possible at 905-874-2906.

If it is in your own backyard, city officials say precautions must be taken when removing it- wear a rain suit, gloves, boots, protective eyewear.  When it is removed, it should be double-bagged in a garbage bag and sealed shut.  It should not be put in the yard waste collection.