prickly sow-thistle
Scientific name: Sonchus asper
Family: Asteraceae
Other common names; spiny annual sow-thistle, spiny-leaved sow-thistle, spiny milk-thistle, spiny sow-thistle
Flowering time: June to October
Height: to 90cm
Growing conditions: disturbed ground, preferring well-drained alkaline soils
Nectar source for:
Food source for:
Description
An annual plant, Prickly sow-thistle has been used as a potherb since ancient times. It is host to various aphids and acts as a reservoir to several important plant viruses including beet western yellows.
How to identify: Prickly Sow-thistle has reddish stems and spiny dark-green leaves with rounded basal lobes. The compound yellow flowerheads have Dandelion-like yellow flowers 2 to 2.5cm across (when fully open) that are borne in lax clusters.
How to propagate:
Family: Asteraceae
Other common names; spiny annual sow-thistle, spiny-leaved sow-thistle, spiny milk-thistle, spiny sow-thistle
Flowering time: June to October
Height: to 90cm
Growing conditions: disturbed ground, preferring well-drained alkaline soils
Nectar source for:
Food source for:
Description
An annual plant, Prickly sow-thistle has been used as a potherb since ancient times. It is host to various aphids and acts as a reservoir to several important plant viruses including beet western yellows.
How to identify: Prickly Sow-thistle has reddish stems and spiny dark-green leaves with rounded basal lobes. The compound yellow flowerheads have Dandelion-like yellow flowers 2 to 2.5cm across (when fully open) that are borne in lax clusters.
How to propagate: