Spiny Sowthistle

 Note from the Author: This post isn’t technically a redo but more of a full-on correction. On April 7^th 2022, I did a fill write-up about Sow Thistle and did not notice at the time my photos were of Spiny Sowthistle a close relative. So today we have a fully corrected post for all of you to enjoy.

 

 

This Spiny Sowthistle emerged later in spring between stonework in Downtown Fayetteville and has likely been stepped on a few times and possibly string trimmed.

This SPiny Sowthistle was found at the PWC facility in early spring.

 

Common Name: Prickly Sowthistle

 

Other Common Names: Spiney Sowthistle, Spiny-leaved Sow-Thistle, Rough Milk Thistle and, Sharp-Fringed Sow Thistle.

 

Botanical Family: Asteraceae (The Aster Family)

 

Botanical Latin Name: Sonchus asper

 

Description & Habitat: Prickly Sowthistle is a cool-season annual or biennial that can reach a height of six feet tall. When found in the urban landscape however, this non-native plant is often less than half of the aforementioned height. A prickly Sowthistle’s leaves are in alternate arrangement on the plant’s hollow stems and the leaves are roughly lanceolate in shape. The leaf shape can vary somewhat due to curls and lobes on the leaf which can cause misidentification as Prickly Sowthistle can sometimes resemble Prickly Lettuce or a number of other members of the Aster family. There also appears to be some variation on leaf shape relative to where this plant’s seed germinates and when it germinates. Prickly Sowthistle can be found in disturbed sites like roadsides, fields, railroad intersections, and in embankments. It also will appear in garden beds, between the cracks of concrete or asphalt and in fields, yards and occasionally in potted outdoor plants. The best time to look for this plant is in spring while the plants are small, but developed enough to tell them from other similar looking cool-season annuals.

 

When & What to Harvest: With Prickly Sowthistle, the parts you want are mainly the leaves while they are no longer than 4”. The taproot before the plant flowers is viable as a food source also the flowers can be used in the same ways one might use Dandelion blossoms.

 

Edible Related Plants: Annual Sowthistle (S. oleraceus).

 

Similar Dangerous Species:  None are known.

 

Recipe:  Sautéed Sow Thistle

 

4 cups of chopped young (1-4" long leaves) Spiny Sowthistle

Butter or oil

1 cup of Bone broth (any other form of broth can be substituted)

1 tsp of dried garlic (4 cloves if fresh)

1 tsp. flour

Salt and pepper to taste

 

1. Wash your greens thoroughly and cut away the spiny bits if they are too firm.

2. Heat the oil/butter in your pan and then add the leaves.

3. Stir the leaves to make sure they get a nice coating of the oil.

4. Bring the pan with the leaves to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes.

5. Add the garlic the flour and the salt and pepper.

6. Stir everything and add another tablespoon of butter or oil and cook until the greens are fully soft.

7. Serve with rice.

 

Additional Information: (If applicable)

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sonchus-asper/

 

Where to get Seed or Bare Root Plants:

As far as I know, there is no credible vendor that sells the seeds for this plant.

 

With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog.  In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.

 

For those of you wondering what plants are going to be at the market this weekend here is the list.

 

Spring Plants:

Chicory, Italian

Chicory, Garnet Stem

Ground Cherries, Perennial

Okra, Baby Bubba

Okra, Iraqi Bamia

Pepper, Ghost

Pepper, Serrano

Pepper, Hungarian Wax Banana

Pepper, Bull’s Horn

Pepper, Mad Hatter

Pepper, Purple Bell

Rice, Upland

Spinach, Egyptian

Tomato, Cherokee Purple

Tomato, Chocolate Cherry

Tomato, Midnight Snack

Tomato, Lemon Boy

Tomato, Brown Sugar

 

Herbs:

Basil, Holy

Chives

Milk Thistle

Morenga

Savory, Summer

 

Ornamental & Flowers:

Castor Bean, Giant

Flowering Maple, ‘Orange Hot Lava’

 

Soil Amendment Products:

Carolina Gold, Live Mushroom Compost – 18 Gallon Tote*

Carolina Gold, Live Mushroom Compost – 3 Gallon Bag

Carolina Gold, Live Mushroom Compost – 1 Gallon Bag

 

*The 18 gallon tote is by special order only and is delivered to any address within the Fayetteville city area.

 

How to stay in Contact with Us!

All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.

 

Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville

 

Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:

The Videos: Look Here

>Newest videos (1): Za’atar

 

Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is May 10^th at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.