Copy permalink to share

*Sonchus asper (Linnaeus) Hill. Common name: Spinyleaf Sow-thistle, Prickly Sow-thistle. Phenology: Late Mar-Jul. Habitat: Roadsides, fields, pastures, disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of Europe.

Origin/Endemic status: Europe

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Bah, C, F, Fl7, FNA19, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Oh3, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, SE1, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV; Sonchus oleraceus Linnaeus var. asper Linnaeus. Basionym: Sonchus oleraceus L. var. asper L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Sonchus asper - FNA19

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)

Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Great Plains: FAC
  • Midwest: FACU
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 8

Your browser does not support SVGs

Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.

image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷

Feedback

See something missing or incorrect about Sonchus asper? Let us know here:

  1. Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
  2. If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
  3. Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
  4. Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
  5. Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.

Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect annual of roadsides, fields, pastures and other open, disturbed areas. Native of Europe.

Stems: Stems dull green to reddish-green, often with longitudinal lines, sparingly branched above, smooth and leaking milky sap when broken.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile with rounded basal lobes clasping the stem, lance- to oblong-lance-shaped, to 10 in. long, folded upward along the central vein, with conspicuously prickly-toothed margins, shiny and smooth; leaking milky sap when broken.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in small branching, terminal cluster on a long stalk; heads 1/2-3/4 in. wide, consisting of numerous yellow ray florets. The urn-shaped base of the head is enclosed in dull green, lance-shaped bracts, which may bear tiny stalked glands.

Fruits: Fruit a cluster of white-tufted achenes.

Comments:

Height: 1-5 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect annual of roadsides, fields, pastures and other open, disturbed areas. Native of Europe.

stems: Stems dull green to reddish-green, often with longitudinal lines, sparingly branched above, smooth and leaking milky sap when broken.

leaves: Leaves alternate, sessile with rounded basal lobes clasping the stem, lance- to oblong-lance-shaped, to 10 in. long, folded upward along the central vein, with conspicuously prickly-toothed margins, shiny and smooth; leaking milky sap when broken.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers (heads) in small branching, terminal cluster on a long stalk; heads 1/2-3/4 in. wide, consisting of numerous yellow ray florets. The urn-shaped base of the head is enclosed in dull green, lance-shaped bracts, which may bear tiny stalked glands.

fruits: Fruit a cluster of white-tufted achenes.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:



0 unsaved edits on this page.