# Perennial Sow Thistle (*Sonchus arvensis*)

Perennial Sow Thistle is a leafy plant that grows in fields and gardens. It has bright yellow flowers that look like little suns and can grow tall, making it easy to spot!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Perennial Sow Thistle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sonchus_arvensis_Unterfranken.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Fornax, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sonchus_arvensis_Unterfranken.jpg)

## Appearance

The Perennial Sow Thistle is a tall plant with bright yellow, dandelion-like flower heads. Its deeply lobed, often prickly-edged leaves clasp the stem, which contains a distinctive milky-white sap. This helps distinguish it from true thistles.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Sonchus

## Interesting facts

- Even though it's called a 'thistle,' its spines are usually soft, unlike true thistles.
- Its bright yellow flowers are like mini suns that track the sun across the sky!
- The stem contains a milky sap that some ancient cultures used as a remedy.
- This plant can grow back from a tiny piece of root, making it super tough!

## Special abilities

- **Underground Traveler:** Perennial Sow Thistle can spread far and wide using underground stems, helping it colonize new areas quickly.
- **Milky Shield:** Perennial Sow Thistle has a milky sap that helps it defend against hungry animals trying to eat its leaves.
- **Deep Drinker:** Perennial Sow Thistle has a deep taproot that helps it find water and nutrients far underground, even in dry spots.
- **Wind Rider:** Perennial Sow Thistle produces many feathery seeds that help it spread easily by wind to distant locations.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-150 cm
- **Spread:** 30-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen
- **Parasitizes:** Sow thistle aphid (*Uroleucon sonchi*) — Sucks sap from stems
- **Eaten by:** [European rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Browses on leaves and stems
- **Pollinates:** [Painted Lady](https://www.snappit.app/explore/painted-lady) (*Vanessa cardui*) — Adult butterflies drink nectar

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Symbiotic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/symbiotic): Describes a relationship between two different species where they live in close association, often benefiting one or both.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before touching or eating any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Perennial Sow Thistle?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Perennial Sow Thistle?

50-150 cm

### How wide does Perennial Sow Thistle spread?

30-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Perennial Sow Thistle?

2-3 cm

### When does Perennial Sow Thistle bloom?

Summer-fall

### Is Perennial Sow Thistle edible?

Yes

### Is Perennial Sow Thistle toxic?

None

### What is Perennial Sow Thistle's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [International Peace Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/international-peace-garden) — US · Botanical Garden

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Perennial Sow Thistle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/perennial-sow-thistle)