Sonchus asper Seeds | Spiny Sow Thistle
LATIN NAME: Sonchus asper
COMMON NAME: Spiny Sow Thistle
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Spiny Sow Thistle, Sonchus asper is a noteworthy species in the family Asteraceae, native to most of Europe, including britain, south and east from scandinavia to north Africa, north and west Asia. Spiny sow thistle is a fine, tough, yellow-flowered plant of waysides and fields, and its bright-yellow, dandelion-like flowers and spiny, toothed leaves have made it a familiar of countryside for a very long time. Upright, hollow-stemmed plant carries spiny, deeply toothed, glossy-green leaves, and clusters of bright-yellow, dandelion-like flowers open through long season, to be followed by white, downy seed heads. Young leaves are a fine, fresh green of spring, gathered and eaten in salads and greens of region, and plant is a fine, easy, generous self-sower. For the small amount of care it requires, the return is remarkable.
Science & Biotechnology
Research touching on Sonchus asper ranges from the botany of Asteraceae to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. Spiny sow thistle has a steady and growing place in plant science, and plant has been studied for its fine, tough growth and its place among wild greens of old world. Nothing exotic is required: standard seed-sowing practice, done carefully, is enough.
Uses & Benefits
Spiny Sow Thistle brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Spiny sow thistle is grown for bright-yellow flowers and young leaves. Bright-yellow, dandelion-like flowers are a fine food for bees and hoverflies through a very long season, and white, downy seed heads are a fine food for seed-eating birds. Young, tender leaves are gathered in spring and eaten in salads and cooked greens of region, and plant is a fine, easy, generous self-sower of ordinary ground. Establishment is uncomplicated, and afterwards ordinary care suffices.
Sow thistles are mineral-rich wild greens eaten around the Mediterranean and in China, where they are folk cooling herbs; the tender young leaves are the pick.
Growing from Seed
Spiny Sow Thistle grows readily from seed. Sow thinly on the surface of a loose, well-drained seed compost, cover lightly, water in gently and keep the tray in a sunny spot with even moisture. Prick the seedlings out once they are large enough to handle, grow them on in bright light, and plant out when conditions allow.
Our Take
Spiny Sow Thistle is the kind of plant that rewards a permanent spot. It is generous with beginners and their occasional misjudgements.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Spiny Sow Thistle often pair it with these related subjects: