Cicuta maculata
Water hemlock
no rights reserved, uploaded by Megan Blackmore · CC0
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cicuta maculata (Water hemlock) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by . Limited range data in eFlora.
Water hemlock is a deadly poisonous California native perennial found in wet meadows, stream banks, and marshlands across the state's central and northern regions at low to moderate elevations. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces delicate white flowers in compound umbels with numerous small clusters arranged in lacy, intricate patterns. Growing to a substantial height of 1 to 1.5 meters with thick, hollow stems marked by distinctive purple-brown streaks or mottling, it develops an impressive and somewhat menacing presence in wet habitats. Its large, complex leaves are divided into 1 to 2 pinnate segments with sharp-pointed, lance-shaped leaflets 2 to 10 centimeters long, each edged with coarse serrations and featuring intricate vein patterns. The small ovate fruits, approximately 3 to 4 millimeters long, complete the plant's sophisticated botanical structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from congeners. Limited range data in eFlora
Habitat and range
California counties: Inyo, Santa Cruz, Mono, Modoc, Solano, San Diego, San Bernardino, Alpine
How to tell it apart
vs Conium: Cicuta has green stems and sap that turns red-brown; Conium has purple-spotted stems.; vs Angelica: Cicuta sap turns reddish-brown in air; Angelica lacks this color-changing sap.; vs Oenanthe: Cicuta spreads from rhizomes with color-changing sap; Oenanthe has tuberous roots with crowned fruits.; vs Sambucus: Sambucus is a woody shrub with compound leaves; Cicuta is an herbaceous wetland plant.; vs Perideridia: Cicuta grows in wetlands from rhizomes; Perideridia grows in dry grasslands from tubers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cicuta maculata native to California?
Yes. Cicuta maculata is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Cicuta maculata grow?
Cicuta maculata occurs in Inyo, Santa Cruz, Mono, Modoc, Solano, San Diego, San Bernardino, Alpine.
What plant family does Cicuta maculata belong to?
Cicuta maculata is in the Apiaceae family, genus Cicuta.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.