Sonchus Oleraceus
Common Sow-thistle
Most Sonchus are annuals, with a few that are perennials, and, rarely, a shrub. Most have a basal rosette of deeply-toothed leaves, upright stems with clasping leaves and yellow, dandelion-like flowers Sonchus Oleraceus is an annual herb, often considered invasive, with dandelion-like leaves and flowers. The leaves can be eaten as salad greens, or cooked (like spinach). This is one of the species used in Chinese cuisine as kucài (??; lit. bitter vegetable). Blanching, or boiling, removes bitterness.
Contributed by @angipangi
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Full sun
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Occasional watering
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Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)
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Moist and free draining
Common name
Common Sow-thistle
Latin name
Sonchus Oleraceus
type
Biennial Herb
family
Asteraceae
ph
5.5 - 8.5 Acid - Neutral
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Light
Full sun
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Frost
Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)
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Soil
Moist and free draining
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Water
Occasional watering
Plant & bloom calendar
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Best time to plant
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When the plant will bloom
full grown dimensions
0.50 M
1.00 M
Sonchus Oleraceus
Most Sonchus are annuals, with a few that are perennials, and, rarely, a shrub. Most have a basal rosette of deeply-toothed leaves, upright stems with clasping leaves and yellow, dandelion-like flowers Sonchus Oleraceus is an annual herb, often considered invasive, with dandelion-like leaves and flowers. The leaves can be eaten as salad greens, or cooked (like spinach). This is one of the species used in Chinese cuisine as kucài (??; lit. bitter vegetable). Blanching, or boiling, removes bitterness.
Flowering
From Early Summer TO Late Summer
Dandelion-like flowers appear in Summer
Planting
From Mid Spring TO Late Spring
Generally speaking, it is unlikely that one would want to plant this sow-thistle! If grown outdoors, plant in a sheltered, sunny or partially sunny site, in moist, free-draining soil. Frost tender, but the root will often survive, even though the leaves are killed by frost. If grown in a container, grow in free-draining, loam-based compost, and place outdoors through Summer, then overwinter in a frost free place.
Propagating by seed
From Mid Spring TO Late Spring
Propagate by seed by sowing seed in situ, after the risk of frost has passed, in moist, free draining soil in a sunny, or partially sunny, sheltered site, or in a container.
lovestogarden
angipangi
gusia