It very closely matches the description of giant blue lettuce, but it has yellow flowers...

It bleeds white latex, has leaves that resemble a giant dandelion



The stems hollow but very woody!

They moved in a few years ago and in the shady spot they inhabit they easily get 10-15' tall!
They look stretched out, this will be the first time I've had them in full sun, it's also the first time they've gotten in one of heavy feed beds... They look extra robust, I'm not sure if they'll get taller from better conditions of stouter from more sun... Either way they get massive!
I'm sure it's an exotic invasive, but I rather like them!

Any thoughts?

Maybe a Sonchus sp? Sonchus arvensis?
http://www.discoverlife.org/20...

Yes, looks like that's the genus!

I'll have to hunt to find the species, but that's no big deal!

Mind if I ask how you found that?

Well, the plant genus is quite common here, I actually have one growing on my doorstep and a few volonteers in plant containers.. Yours really looks well-fed!

Yea, these volunteered here too...
Those 2 are actually pretty average...
That's what's hanging me up, my plants get much larger that the large sonchus I'm reading about now, absolutely massive!
I can't really find any that perfectly match mine, maybe it's a less common type or an atypical sport.

Seems they are variable plants, but each one I've seen is identical to the others...

I'm satisfied to know the genus, I'll leave this thread open in case someone has a suggestion on the species!

Maybe because yours are so well-fed, not common if just found in the wild, they can differ slightly in appearance..
I've seen that with Dandelions too, I once saw them on a camping side where many dogs had passed by leaving their droppings, the plants were gigantic!

That would be a decent explanation except this is the first year they've been in a cultivated field, or full sun.

They popped up in an old very grown up lot on our farm, the soil is old and I'm sure rich with organic matter, but no fertilizer, and rather deep shade.
I assume they were stretched out in the shade, that might explain why I think they get so tall, but they generally look just like this one no matter where they grow.
Either way it's an impressive looking plant!
I'll add a new pic on Monday or Tuesday, when the rain lets up.
They're noticeably larger each day

We'll watch the further development..
The most important is that you like the plant!

bonitin said:We'll watch the further development..
The most important is that you like the plant!

Indeed!
And thanks to you for the genus name... Since I've started researching sonchus today I've found a whole slew of plants I might need to try to find!

Some of the big tropical species look awesome!