spiny sowthistle.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Einfach

Pflanzenart

Annual herb

Licht

Full sun

Licht im Innenraum

Direkte Sonne

Gießen

Alle 3 bis 7 Tage

Endgröße

3 to 4 feet

Wachstum

Schnell

Winterhärte

USDA 4 bis 9

Blütezeit

Spring to autumn

Pflege

This plant thrives in full sun and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. Watch for rapid spread, as it produces many wind-dispersed seeds. It is generally considered a weed and requires no special care.

Gießen

Keep the soil consistently moist while the plant is establishing.

Düngen

Fertilizer is not necessary as this plant grows readily in most soils.

Schneiden

Remove flower heads before they go to seed to prevent unwanted spread.

Umtopfen

This plant is typically grown in the ground and does not require repotting.

Boden

Well-draining, disturbed soil

Boden-pH

6.0 to 7.5

Temperatur

-10 bis 35°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

30 bis 80%

Trockenheitstoleranz

Mittel

Lebensdauer

Annual, typically 1 year

Wildverbiss-Resistenz

Mittel

Sicherheit

Menschen

It is generally considered non toxic, though the milky sap may cause mild irritation in sensitive individuals.

Kinder

The plant is not inherently dangerous, but the prickly leaf margins can scratch delicate skin if handled roughly.

Kontaktallergene

The milky latex sap can cause skin irritation or contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

Allergene in der Luft

The pollen may cause mild hay fever symptoms in susceptible people during the peak flowering season.

Essbarkeit

While the young leaves are sometimes eaten, they can be bitter and are often considered a famine food rather than a culinary staple.

So erkennst du die Pflanze

• Prickly, jagged leaf margins
• Yellow dandelion-like flower heads
• Milky sap inside stems
• Basal rosette of leaves
• Fluffy white seed heads

Höhe

0,3 bis 1m

Breite

0,2 bis 0,45m

Blätter

green, deciduous

Blüten

yellow, 1,5 bis 2,5cm

Früchte

brown, Summer to autumn

Häufige Probleme

• Aphids — Small insects that cluster on new growth and flower buds.

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

seed

Pflanzzeit

spring, autumn

Überwinterung

It typically dies back in winter, leaving seeds to germinate in the following spring.

Im Kübel

It grows well in containers, but its rapid growth and seed production make it a poor choice for most pots.

Because it is a vigorous grower, it is best kept away from delicate garden beds where it may outcompete desired plants.

Gute Pflanzpartner

• Löwenzahn — They share similar environmental preferences and often grow in the same disturbed habitats.

Ähnliche Arten

• Common sowthistle — It looks very similar but has less prickly, more deeply lobed leaves.

Botanisches

Familie

Asteraceae

Gattung

Sonchus

Ordnung

Asterales

Klasse

Magnoliopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia.

Artenschutz

It is a common, widespread weed and is not of conservation concern.

It is a pioneer species that quickly colonizes disturbed ground and open areas.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

nectar source

Bestäuber

Bienen, Schmetterlinge

Verwendung

foraging, wildlife habitat

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

Is this plant a weed?

Yes, it is widely considered an agricultural and garden weed due to its aggressive seed dispersal.

Can I eat it?

Young leaves are edible when cooked, but they are often bitter and not commonly consumed.

Woher der Name kommt

The genus name Sonchus comes from the Greek word for hollow, referring to the stems, while asper is Latin for rough, describing the prickly leaves.

Gut zu wissen

• It is often called spiny sowthistle because of its prickly leaves.
• The seeds have fluffy white bristles that help them travel long distances on the wind.
• It is a member of the daisy family.
• It thrives in disturbed soil and is often found in gardens and along roadsides.