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Sow Thistle
Edible 
Autumn 
Spring 
Summer 
Winter
Very common, tastes just like lettuce and can be found throughout the year unless there is a really harsh Winter. There are eight species of sow thistle growing in the UK.
| Hedgerow Type | |
| Common Names | Sow Thistle, Hares Lettuce |
| Scientific Name | Sonchus spp. |
| Season Start | Jan |
| Season End | Dec |
Leaves
Initially growing in a basal rosette and toothed until the flower stem appears, the leaves become less toothed the higher up the stem they are. Delicate and rather Dandelion like with a white sap when cut. The leaves of prickly sow thistle have spines on them and are best trimmed before consumption.
Flowers
Yellow and like small Dandelion flowers but many can grow from one stem, unlike Dandelions.
Seeds
Growing like a Dandelion clock.
Stem
Smooth, hollow and succulent and exuding a white latex like milk when cut..
Roots
Rather thin and woody but they can be roasted and eaten.
Habitat
Anywhere there is a bit of bare soil.
Possible Confusion
Dandelions, pictured, and similar edible species within the Sunflower family.
Taste
The leaves have a lettuce like taste only not as bitter.
Frequency
Very common.
Collecting
This plant will grow around trees and fence posts and along edges so are likely to have been visited by dogs, therefore caution should be taken as to where this plant is collected from.
Medicinal Uses
Folklore tells of this plant having many medicinal uses and it was treated just like Dandelion.
Other Facts
There are a few different types of Sow Thistle species growing in the UK but Sonchus oleraceus is the most common.
It got the name Sow Thistle from the fact that when cut the plant exudes a latex like milk which was believed to help lactation in mothering sows.
It has been used as fodder for many animals, particularly rabbits and pigs.
11 comments for Sow Thistle
Hello!
I came across your page as I was looking at some plants that look like sow thistle and wanted to make sure. I know they’re great medicinal plants and would like to make sure they’re edible or I can also make teas to put on the skin and hair.
I have pictures of them but I don’t have any was to show you.
I live in Milton Keynes and the plants are in my backyard.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Kind regards,
Andrea
You’ll need to send us some clear photos for us to have a chance at an ID.
I planted marjoram seeds, and have grown what I think may be sow-thistle! The leaves are extremely soft and wilt instantly on picking. The sap is clear though. Could this be because they’re just seedlings? I’d like to be sure what they are before I feed them to the bearded dragon.
There is nothing much that looks like sow thistle that isn’t edible but if you are unsure let them grow a bit more although I have seen clear and white sap from them.
I had the exact same thing, I sew majoram and now have this thistle looking plant 🙁
How can you to tell the difference between Sow Thistle and Groundsel?
Sow thistle has dandelion like leaves with toothed edges, groundsel has thin, deeply lobed leaves. The flowers on groundsel have green bracts covering most of the flower, these green bracts have black tips which sow thistle lacks.
Are they easy to germinate? Do i have to chill the seeds first?
I’m afraid I don’t know the answer but as it such a common plant I would have thought the seed should germinate easily.
I have accidentally cultivated several plants that I now believe to be sow thistles. They grew in pots from seed and are thriving! Can I supply a photo to check?
Yes, send any photos to [email protected].