Irish wildflowers BSBI map

Prickly Sow-thistle, Sonchus asper, Bleachtán colgach
Photographs: Co. Cork

Prickly Sow-thistle
Sonchus asper
Bleachtán colgach
Family: Asteraceae

Flowering time: June-October. Annual. Native.

Many yellow flowerheads followed by dandelion-like seedheads. Pinnate, usually wavy leaves with numerous prickly teeth on margins and rounded leaf-bases. Hairless. Height: 30-90cm.

Common on waste ground, roadsides, arable land.

Similar: Perennial Sow-thistle, Sonchus arvensis has larger deeper yellow flowers and hairy flower stems.

Prickly Sow-thistle, Sonchus asper, Bleachtán colgach

Prickly Sow-thistle, Sonchus asper, Bleachtán colgach
Prickly Sow-thistle, Sonchus asper, Bleachtán colgach

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