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Sonchus spp.

sow thistles

Asteraceae Europe, Asia, and Africa

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–9

Overview

Sonchus spp. is a genus of about 60 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the daisy family, Asteraceae, known as sow thistles and native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Plants grow 1 to 6 feet (0.3 to 1.8 m) tall on hollow, often branched stems that exude a milky white latex when cut. The leaves are lobed and clasp the stem at the base, with margins ranging from soft to weakly spiny depending on the species. The flower heads are 0.5 to 1 inch (1 to 2.5 cm) across and made entirely of yellow ray florets, resembling small dandelions, and are followed by rounded clusters of seed each carried on a white parachute of hairs. Sonchus spp. grows across USDA zones 4 to 9 and tolerates poor, disturbed, and compacted soils. Several species, including S. oleraceus, S. asper, and S. arvensis, are widespread agricultural and garden weeds outside their native range, spreading quickly by wind-borne seed and, in the perennial species, by creeping roots.

Native Range

Native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, growing in disturbed ground, fields, roadsides, and waste places. Several species have naturalized on every continent except Antarctica and are treated as weeds far beyond their native range.

Suggested Uses

Grown occasionally as edible leafy greens and foraged when young, and the seed heads are eaten by finches and other seed-eating birds. The flowers are a nectar and pollen source for bees and other insects. Most often the genus is managed as a weed rather than planted, given its rapid spread.

How to Identify

Identified by hollow stems with milky white latex, lobed leaves that clasp the stem with rounded or pointed basal lobes, and yellow dandelion-like flower heads made only of ray florets. Seed heads are round and fluffy, with each seed on a white pappus. The clasping leaf bases and branched, leafy flowering stems separate Sonchus spp. from true dandelions, which have leafless flower stalks.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 6'

Width/Spread6" - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flower heads open from spring through fall, with many overlapping over a long season, and individual heads last a few days before going to seed. Bloom continues until frost in mild climates. Each plant can produce thousands of wind-dispersed seeds across the season.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade in almost any soil, including poor, compacted, and disturbed ground. The plants tolerate drought once rooted and need no fertilizer or irrigation in average conditions. Hardiness spans USDA zones 4 to 9, with annual species completing their cycle in a single season and perennial species overwintering by root. Rapid self-seeding and, in perennial species, spreading roots make the plants difficult to contain. Removing flower heads before seed set is the main way to limit spread. No pest or disease management is generally required.

Pruning

No structural pruning is needed. Flowering stems are cut or pulled before seed forms to reduce spread, and perennial species are dug to remove the creeping roots. Repeated cutting weakens established plants over a season.