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Sonchus arvensis - L.

Common Name Field Milk Thistle, Field sowthistle, Moist sowthistle
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Arable and waste land, ditches and on the drift line of salt and brackish margins, avoiding acid soils[4, 9, 17]. A persistent weed of cultivation[1].
Range Europe, including Britain, south and east from Scandanavia to Spain and W. Asia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Sonchus arvensis Field Milk Thistle, Field sowthistle, Moist sowthistle


(c) Steve Flanagan
Sonchus arvensis Field Milk Thistle, Field sowthistle, Moist sowthistle

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Sonchus arvensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft).
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies), beetles. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root  Stem
Edible Uses: Coffee

Young leaves - raw or cooked[4, 5, 52, 54]. A slightly bitter taste, they can be added to salads or cooked like spinach[9, 183]. The leaves are rich in mineral salts and vitamin C[9], they contain about 47mg of vitamin C per 100g and 2% protein (dry weight)[173]. It might be best, though it is not necessary, to remove the marginal prickles[9]. Stems - cooked like asparagus or rhubarb[12]. Young root - cooked[12]. The roasted root is used as a coffee substitute[177, 183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiinflammatory  Pectoral  Sedative  Vitamin C

The leaves are used as a poultice and are said to have anti-inflammatory activity[4, 222]. An infusion of the leaves has been used in the treatment of caked breasts[257]. A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of asthma, coughs and other chest complaints[222]. A tea made from the leaves is said to calm the nerves[222].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

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Other Uses

Insecticide

The plant is said to have insecticidal properties[218]. A good companion for onions, tomatoes, corn as well as the cucumber and squash family[20]. Dynamic accumulator.

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A common garden weed, see notes on its habitat if you want to encourage it. This species has been cultivated for its edible leaves by the Maoris of New Zealand, in Indonesia there are improved varieties selected for their edible leaves[153, 183]. A good companion for onions, tomatoes, corn as well as the cucumber and squash family[20]. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [2-1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. A common garden weed, this species should not normally need any assistance.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Russian Federation-Far East (Far East) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, Faroe Islands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Sonchus asperPrickly Sow Thistle, Spiny sowthistleAnnual0.5 0-0  LMHSNM210
Sonchus brachyotus Perennial0.6 -  LMH M11 
Sonchus crassifoliusEnsaladetasPerennial0.4 6-10 FLMHNDM212
Sonchus kirkiiShore Sow Thistle 0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Sonchus oleraceusSow Thistle, Common sowthistleBiennial1.0 0-0  LMHNM222
Sonchus tenerrimusClammy Sow Thistle, Slender sowthistleAnnual/Perennial0.8 0-0  LMHSNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Jun 26 2011 12:00AM

Milk Thistle in my book is Silybum marianum, whereas Sonchus are Sow Thistles.

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