This poisonous plant is blooming in Kentucky. Here’s what you need to know.

It is not a good idea to encourage a plant with white flowers in your garden.

Poison hemlock is being seen more and more in the bluegrass region. It is said that the weed was used to poison the Greek philosopher Socrates.

According to J.D. Green, poison hemlock has been in Kentucky since he began his career 40 years ago, but he is seeing more and more of it nowadays.

There are warnings on social media about the weed.

A photo of poison hemlock was sent to Green by a county extension agent.

Toxicity is a real concern.

He said he received a call earlier this spring from a woman who was concerned about children playing in the area and possibly consuming poison on her property.

He said it was probably a rare occurrence, but it was a concern.

He said he knew of a man who used buffalo to kill hemlock.

Occasionally, we have poisonings of animals. A lot of it can be used to kill an animal.

If the poison is cut and baled into hay, it increases the risk of exposure for the animals.

The poison hemlock is in its peak bloom in June. The blooms will start to diminish in a few weeks.

Poison fern has leaves and flowers that are similar to Queen Anne's lace, but Green said it can be distinguished by its smooth stems. He said that Queen Anne's lace has hair on the stems and leaves.

Green doesn't think spraying larger poison hemlock plants is a good idea. It will make plants more attractive to animals.

He said that cutting the plant down if it grows in fence rows is an option but that it needs to happen before it flowers.

Green said that spraying should be done before the plant sends up its flower stalks because it is not as easy to see. The plant grows in the shape of a rosette in the spring and fall.

Learning what it looks like when it is young is the key to spraying it.

This time of year, social media posts about giant hogweed can be found. White flowers similar to Queen Anne's lace are on the stem.

Giant hogweed can cause problems for people who brush against it, according to the USDA. The agency says that the sap can cause severe skin and eye irritation, stinging of the skin, and even blindness.

According to Green, giant hogweed doesn't grow in Kentucky, but he does get inquiries from people who think it's poison hemlock.

Information that may be helpful in identifying poison hemlock, giant hogweed and similar looking plants can be found on the website of the Maine Department of Agriculture.