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Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock

Cicuta bulbifera

Last reviewed: August 2026

Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock (Cicuta bulbifera)
Photo: USDA NRCS / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock is toxic to dogs and cats.

Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and your veterinarian's emergency line.

Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.

Native swaps for a yard with pets

Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. These natives fill a similar role in a planting and are not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs or cats. Each plant's page carries its dated record.

Light

part sun

Water

high

Size

12"–60" H × 6"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

CT, DE, FL, GA and 30 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles, flies

Before you buy

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Great PlainsWestern Corn Belt PlainsNorthern ForestsNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauErie Drift PlainMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontRidge and ValleyAcadian Plains and HillsEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Bulblet-bearing water hemlock is a tall wetland perennial that thrives in consistently moist to wet soils and partial sun conditions. It produces clusters of small white flowers from June through August and develops characteristic bulblets along its stems. This plant requires specialized growing conditions and is best suited for bog gardens, rain gardens, or naturally wet areas of the landscape.

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In an HOA neighborhood

Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

  • Extremely toxic plant - all parts are poisonous to humans and pets
  • Requires specialized wet conditions not typical in managed landscapes
  • Informal appearance may look unkempt in maintained settings

Wildlife value

The summer blooms attract various pollinators including native bees, beetles, and flies. As a wetland species, it provides habitat value in moisture-rich garden areas.

Common questions

How much sun does Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock need?
Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock bloom?
Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock blooms in June, July, and August.
Where is Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock native?
Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock (Cicuta bulbifera) is native to CT, DE, FL, GA and 30 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock toxic to dogs?
Yes. Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock toxic to cats?
Yes. Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
What pollinators does Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock attract?
Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock draws bees, beetles, and flies.
Is Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock HOA-friendly?
Bulblet-bearing Water Hemlock takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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