Sonchus asper
prickly sowthistle
A robust annual, up to 1.5m tall, with shiny, deeply lobed leaves with soft prickles, a hollow stem with milky sap, and, in summer, clusters of small, dandelion-like flowers followed by short-lived, fluffy seedheads
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native to the UK
- Yes
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Genus
Sonchus are mostly annuals with a few perennials and rarely a shrub. Most produce a basal rosette of deeply-toothed leaves, upright stems with clasping leaves and yellow, dandelion-like flowers
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows naturally in cultivated ground, waste ground, roadsides and other open areas; a common garden weed
Propagation
Spreads readily by seed
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids and a leaf miner
Diseases
May be susceptible to powdery mildews and a leaf spot
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