General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Annual
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Fall
Underground structures: Taproot
Uses: Vegetable
Salad greens
Cooked greens
Edible Parts: Stem
Leaves
Flowers
Eating Methods: Raw
Cooked
Pollinators: Hoverflies
Bees

Image
Common names
  • Spiny Sow-thistle
  • Sow Thistle
  • Prickly Sow Thistle

Photo Gallery
Location: Southern Pines, NC
Date: March 29, 2023
Spiny Sow-thistle #411; RAB p. 1023, 179-8-2; AG p. 305, 55-98-2,
Location: Southern Pines, NC
Date: March 29, 2023
Spiny Sow-thistle #411; RAB p. 1023, 179-8-2; AG p. 305, 55-98-2,
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (May 2022)
Date: 2022-05-11
Location: Botanical Garden Meise (near Brussels - Belgium)
Date: 2023-05-15
Location: Botanical Garden Meise (near Brussels - Belgium)
Date: 2023-05-15
Location: Botanical Garden Meise (near Brussels - Belgium)
Date: 2023-05-15
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-04-11
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-04-11 
Noxious, prickly lawn weed.
Location: Botanical Garden Meise (near Brussels - Belgium)
Date: 2023-05-15
Location: Botanical Garden Meise (near Brussels - Belgium)
Date: 2023-05-15
Location: zone 8 North Central, Fl.
Date: 2017-12-23
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-04-11 
Lawn weed with very prickly leaves

Date: 2021-05-03

Date: 2021-05-03

Date: 2020-05-30
Location: central Illinois
Date: 9-18-14
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-09-20
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2013-08-09
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-02-27
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-04-23
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-02-28
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-02-14 
Growing in a neighbor's yard
Plant Events from our members
WebTucker On March 29, 2023 Bloomed
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Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
This looks Sowthistle by ILPARW Aug 23, 2020 9:35 AM 3
Looks Sowthistle by ILPARW Aug 27, 2020 2:20 PM 3

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