Sonchus sp.
Sow thistle, Sow Thistle
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Sonchus sp. (Sow thistle) is a non-native California perennial in the Asteraceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Taraxacum: Taraxacum has all basal leaves on leafless stalks, Sonchus has tall leafy branching stems.; vs Lactuca: Check seeds - Sonchus has no beak, Lactuca seeds have distinct neck before bristles.; vs Helminthotheca: Helminthotheca has spiny-bristly outer phyllaries creating a prickly appearance, Sonchus phyllaries are smooth.; vs Cirsium: Cirsium has spiny flower heads and disk flowers only, Sonchus has smooth heads with ray flowers.; vs Senecio: Senecio has yellow disk and ray flowers, Sonchus has only yellow ray flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sonchus sp. native to California?
No. Sonchus sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Sonchus sp. belong to?
Sonchus sp. is in the Asteraceae family, genus Sonchus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Sonchus tenerrimus — Slender sow thistle
- Sonchus arvensis — Perennial sow thistle
- Sonchus arvensis subsp. arvensis
- Sonchus arvensis subsp. uliginosus
- Sonchus asper subsp. asper — Prickly sow thistle
- Sonchus oleraceus — Common sow thistle
- Sphaeromeria cana — Gray chickensage
- Sphaeromeria potentilloides — Fivefinger chickensage
- Sphaeromeria potentilloides var. nitrophila — Alkali tansy-sage
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.