Toxic plant of 4 meters, banned in Spain, is already taking over gardens and parks in Thuringia, Germany: volunteers say that pulling it out is not enough, roots sprout again and seeds last for years; residents are asking for glyphosate to eradicate it.

Written by Carla Teles

Published on 09/04/2026 at 11:42

Updated on 02/05/2026 at 17:54

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Toxic plant known as giant herb already occupies gardens and parks in central Germany; volunteers warn that cutting does not solve and seeds can last for years

The toxic plant that has been spreading through Thuringia, in central Germany, has become a cause for concern in gardens and parks: it is invasive, resilient, and can grow up to four meters tall. Residents and volunteers claim that control attempts are failing because pulling it out is not enough, roots sprout again and the seeds remain viable for years.

In addition to the environmental impact, the toxic plant also raises direct risks to people. It is described as phototoxic and can cause hives, discoloration, and blisters similar to burns on the skin, which reinforces calls to allow the use of glyphosate for eradication.

What is the giant herb and why has it become a problem

The giant herb, identified as Heracleum mantegazzianum and also called Hercules’ plant, is native to the Caucasus and regions of Central Asia. It spreads easily, adapts to different terrains and climates and is treated as an invasive species in several countries.

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How the toxic plant spread in Thuringia

In the Saale-Orla-Kreis district, in Thuringia, the most cited explanation is that the species arrived when a resident brought a specimen from Lobenstein Park to decorate their garden over 20 years ago. Later, a flood in the river is said to have accelerated its spread, displacing native vegetation.

A local resident, Reiner Hartmann, describes the situation as a disaster and decided to take action, gathering volunteers and structuring an association to coordinate efforts and concentrate resources.

Why pulling and cutting do not solve

Volunteers say that manual work is heavy and only works on younger and isolated plants. Cutting is also not enough, because roots that remain hidden in the soil can sprout again later.

Another obstacle is the persistence of the seeds: they can maintain the ability to germinate for a long period, even for years, creating a cycle of reappearance even when part of the problem seems controlled.

Risk to people and threat to ecosystems

In addition to invading green areas and displacing local species, the toxic plant is also considered dangerous to humans. The combination of phototoxicity and contact can cause skin reactions, including hives, spots, and blisters.

In the view of residents involved in the fight, the discussion is not just aesthetic or about urban maintenance. It is a struggle to protect native flora and reduce risks in public places, such as parks and trail margins.

Why residents are calling for the return of glyphosate

The central argument of the volunteers is that, to eliminate large populations, the use of glyphosate would be necessary. They claim that there is no other way to control the giant herb on a large scale, since manual control is insufficient and the species reappears.

Hartmann argues that it is necessary to evaluate what is more important: if the giant herb threatens native flora and invades everything, then the use of glyphosate should be allowed to prevent a catastrophe.

In your opinion, allowing glyphosate to eradicate this toxic plant is the best solution, or should the solution be something else?

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Toxic plant of 4 meters, banned in Spain, is already taking over gardens and parks in Thuringia, Germany: volunteers say that pulling it out is not enough, roots sprout again and seeds last for years; residents are asking for glyphosate to eradicate it.

Toxic plant known as giant herb already occupies gardens and parks in central Germany; volunteers warn that cutting does not solve and seeds can last for years

What is the giant herb and why has it become a problem

How the toxic plant spread in Thuringia

Why pulling and cutting do not solve

Risk to people and threat to ecosystems

Why residents are calling for the return of glyphosate

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Toxic plant of 4 meters, banned in Spain, is already taking over gardens and parks in Thuringia, Germany: volunteers say that pulling it out is not enough, roots sprout again and seeds last for years; residents are asking for glyphosate to eradicate it.

Toxic plant known as giant herb already occupies gardens and parks in central Germany; volunteers warn that cutting does not solve and seeds can last for years

What is the giant herb and why has it become a problem

How the toxic plant spread in Thuringia

Why pulling and cutting do not solve

Risk to people and threat to ecosystems

Why residents are calling for the return of glyphosate

In the cold desert of Ladakh, where it hardly rains, engineer Sonam Wangchuk created the ice stupa, a tower that freezes winter water and stores it for irrigating crops in the spring, a simple engineering feat that mimics nature.

Libya built over 4,000 kilometers of underground pipelines to bring water from the Sahara to coastal cities in a project that the government itself called the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Chinese woman planted trees for decades while sand buried part of her house, received $5,000 from an American in 1999, and helped transform the desert into a forest of 8 million trees in China.

Almost 6,000 residents live concentrated along a single street nearly 9 km long in the interior of Poland. Houses form a continuous row, and behind them, narrow agricultural strips emerge, creating one of the most unusual rural patterns in Europe.

Desert sand, previously discarded for being too smooth for concrete, becomes an ecological brick in the United Arab Emirates, dispensing with Portland cement, curing at room temperature, and attempting to transform dunes useless for construction into raw material for a new arid engineering.

Described by astronauts as one of the most unlikely natural phenomena on Earth, the Okavango Delta spreads over up to 15,000 square kilometers in the middle of the desert and transforms Botswana into a living labyrinth of channels, islands, and flooded areas.

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