Authentic Wisconsin.  Perennial Sowthistle - Sonchus arvensis


Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.

Above: Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra. (7/2/22).


Perennial Sowthistle - Sonchus arvensis (Introduced - naturalized)

Perennial Sowthistle grows in shade/sun and moist areas. Likes disturbed soil along shorelines, roadsides ditches and fields.

Perennial Sowthistle is a flowering plant that grows 2' to 4' tall. Yellow dandelion-like flower heads are up to 2" across

Perennial Sowthistle leaves next to Duck Pond wall on July 9, 2019.

Above: Perennial Sowthistle leaves next to Duck Pond wall on July 9, 2019.


Blooms: July-Oct.

Other names include: Common sow-thistle, Field sow-thistle, corn sow thistle, swine thistle.


Common Sowthistle - Sonchus oleraceus (Introduced - naturalized)

Common Sowthistle grows in full sun. Likes disturbed sites such as waste places and fields.

Common Sowthistle is a flowering plant that grows 2' to 10' tall. Yellow dandelion-like flower heads are between 3/4" to 1 1/4" across.

Blooms: July-Oct.

Other names include: Common sow-thistle, Field sow-thistle, Smooth sow thistle, Hare's thistle.

The common name "sow thistle" refers to its attractiveness to pigs, and the similarity of the leaf to younger thistle plants. The common name 'hare's thistle' refers to its purported beneficial effects on hare and rabbits.

Common Sowthistle leaves next to Duck Pond wall on July 9, 2019.

Above: Common Sowthistle leaves next to Duck Pond wall on July 9, 2019. Note: Arrowhead tip.


For more information on Perennial Sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis), visit Wikipedia.

For more information on Common/Field Sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus), visit Wikipedia.

Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Herbarium website page about Perennial Sowthistle.

Or, visit the UW-Madison Wisconsin State Herbarium website page about Common Sowthistle.


Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle leaves along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.
Perennial Sowthistle near Duck Pond on July 23, 2019.
Perennial Sowthistle near Duck Pond on July 23, 2019.
Common Sowthistle near Duck Pond on October 5, 2019.

↩  Back to Wisconsin Wildflowers

 

Wisconsin Wildflowers


Perennial Sowthistle
Sonchus arvensis


Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.

Dragonfly landing on Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.

Dragonfly landing on Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.


Above: Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 14, 2022.


Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.

Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.

Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.

Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.

Perennial Sowthistle bracts along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.

Perennial Sowthistle stem and leaves along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.

Perennial Sowthistle stem and leaves along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.


Above: Perennial Sowthistle along shore of Lake Wingra on July 10, 2022.


1913 Perennial Sowthistle line drawing.


Above: 1913 Perennial Sowthistle (sonchus arvensis) line drawing.


1885 Common Sowthistle botanical illustration.


Above: Perennial Sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis) botanical illustration circa 1885.


1885 Common Sowthistle botanical illustration circa 1917-1926.


Above: Perennial Sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis) botanical illustration circa 1917-1926.


Common Sowthistle along Duck Pond stone wall on July 9, 2019.


Above: Common Sowthistle along Duck Pond stone wall on July 9, 2019.


Common Sowthistle fluffball along Duck Pond stone wall on September 1, 2019.

Common Sowthistle fluffball along Duck Pond stone wall on September1, 2019.


Above: Common Sowthistle fluffball along Duck Pond stone wall on September 1, 2019.


1913 Common Sowthistle line drawing.


Above: 1913 Common Sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus) line drawing.


1807 Common Sowthistle botanical illustration by William Curtis.


Above: Common Sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus) botanical illustration by William Curtis circa 1746-1799.


Commonl Sowthistle botanical illustration circa 1917-1926.


Above: Common Sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus) botanical illustration (circa 1917-1926).


↩   Back to Wisconsin Wildflowers

© Copyright 2010 – 2018, Authentic Wisconsin • All rights reserved • Madison, Wisconsin