Marsh thistle looks somewhat like spear thistle at an initial glance, but without the large spines and leaf lobes, and usually with a thin, red, leaf margin. Do you know if it is ok to eat the blowwomed yellow flowers? Good stuff. I break up the bacon into little bits and add it all in. Edible use Should be eaten before flowering, after which time the plant becomes bitter. Also unlike bull thistle stem fibers, sow thistle fibers make poor cordage. Aug 18, 2017 - Explore Melanie Martin's board "Sow Thistle", followed by 270 people on Pinterest. The leaves of the basal rosette tend to have more spikes, but are generally less bitter This plant produces thousands of seeds (as much as 25,000 per plant) and each one of them has a 90% chance of germination. may be bitter to the taste requiring some preparatory boiling. There are several species of Sonchus in the British Isles, however, Sonchus oleraceus is the most common. They can be added to salads or used like spinach. In southern Italy Sonchus invades crops there but they have the good sense to pick it and serve it with spaghetti. Flower head comparison between sowthistle and dandelion. Leaves are very spiny. The young root is also edible when cooked but tends to be woody. Oliver takes advantage of the high germination rate and exploits the weedy potential of the plant. It is the softest of the three with a tactile feel closer to a wild lettuce. You cannot eat most plants with white sap (or white berries.) Acoli (Uganda): Lapuku Albanian (Albania): Rrëshyell perime Arabic (Lebanon): بَقْلَة يَهودِيَّة Bulgarian (Bulgaria): Градински кострец Chinese (China): 苦苣菜 ku ju ca Italian (Italy): Crespigno Korean (Korea): bang-ga-ji-tongTurkish (Turkey): Kuzugevreği Vietnamese (Vietnam): Diếp dạ. I grow canary island sonchus (sometimes called dendrosonchus) here in the uk and they are incredibly bitter! In ancient times, it was a revered plant, and it was sacred to those believing in mythology. It is a common Sicilian Lunch. I can’t eat them fast enough. Hi, I’ve heard about eating the unopened flowers. Smooth sow thistle will hybridize with prickly sow thistle (S. asper) to produce S. asper x glaucescens, a plant similar to smooth sow thistle but with slightly prickly leaves. Sow thistle Image Gallery Closer-view-of-Flowering-buds-of-Sow-thistle. So I can saute it until it wilts instead of leaching in a boil like I often have to do with others in this family. It’s the one that can require trimming. Let me help: if you are unsure about the identity of your plants tag me in a picture or comment below, and I’ll endeavour to help. Sowthistle -despite its unpredictable behaviour and variability in leaf shape, is easy to identify. Pliny wrote that before Theseus went to meet the Bull of Marathon, he was treated by the old woman Hecale (e-KAH-lee in Greek) to a dish of sow thistles. It also has a lot of spines. See more ideas about sowing, thistle, wild edibles. https://foragedfoodie.blogspot.com/2016/03/sow-thistle-capers.html Add the sow-thistle leaves and continue frying for another 3 or 4 minutes, stirring to prevent burning and distribute the heat. Stir-fry until the meat begins to cook. I threw a couple of plants that were a little too old into the pot but they weren’t too bitter. TIME OF YEAR: In northern climates spring, summer and some times autumn, in the South December through April. And just like the dandelion, it too has a puffy seed head, with the seed ‘parachutes’ blowing in the wind when ready. But I can’t find anything about the flowers themselves. Spear thistle has large, deeply-lobed leaves with large spines at the margins, as well as hairy, spiny stems. {Before I spread the word to the club?}. In fact, right now I am having a bowl with homemade butter, salt and pepper. The plant tastes best when young, the leaves are soft and reminiscent of lettuce or radicchio. Burdock preparations are widely used in alternative medicine preparations as a laxative and to treat skin conditions. Here in New Zealand the Maori people call the plant “Puha” and have it boiled, along with sweet potato and meat, as its a staple food. Do the Senecio leaves lack the stem-wrapping bases? In term of availability, sowthistles are in season all year round on this side of the world. am i taking a risk by eating it? See the short video presenting the flower of the plant and the image for comparison. (I find that even fairly long leaves from the upper half of a plant already in flower are quite mild, although these particular plants grew in partial shade.) The young top sprouts and blooms are good in a salad or as cooked greens with vinegar, onion and bacon. Due to the drought last year, my lettuce did not produce well. ), 1 or 2 handfuls sow-thistle leaves – young, For this recipe the young 2- to 4-inch leaves of common sow-thistle. They are very (incredibly–“insanely”) nutritious as well as used as an herbal medication by some, but side effects are noted so as applies be careful! Are there any to be wary of? I think this is brilliant. It may be a sow thistle. Sow thistles got their name because they were fed to lactating pigs. At any given time you are bound to find a sprouting, flowering, seeding or dying example of the genus. Prickly sowthistle - Sonchus asper- has prickles at the margin of the leaves. Oleraceus is an understatement. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, hoverflies. SOWTHISTLE IN THE GARDENMost people tend to pull sowthistle out from their garden, considering them as unwanted weeds. Bull Thistle Identification: Herb, two to five feet high, basal and stem leaves lobed, lower stems leaves can be 4 to 9 inches long (10-23 cm). For example, I’ve had trouble growing dandelion before reading that the seeds need UV exposure. All edibles and quite yummy, some say. Sonchus blossom as the insect sees it, photo by Bjørn Rørslett – NN/Nærfoto. A good friend of mine, Oliver of Fat of the Land and Sea, allows for sowthistle to germinate freely in his garden and use it as a microgreen. I have a bunch and would love to preserve some if it would work. Sonchus Family: Compositae English: Sow Thistle . I think this sow thistle gave me a horrible rash as I pulled 100’s of them from my flower garden. You can read about them here. All over the world. ... Sonchus asper in Asteraceae, sow thistle, spiny sow thistle, prickly sow thistle; Sonchus oleraceus in Asteraceae, sow thistle, common sow thistle; Stellaria media in Caryophyllaceae, chickweed; Image courtesy of CSRIO. Whenever I introduce this plant to the public I often find that someone in the crowd is quite familiar with it and its traditional edible uses. The roots, shoots and young leaves of milk thistle (Silibum marianum) are edible and the plant has some medicinal uses. It is sad to say but a lot of agri-business is not green, or perhaps not so in the United States. There’s a huge variety in sow thistles, from having few or no prickles to having a lot, from a foot high to six feet high, from green to purple, especially older plants. Thanks as always GD! They are respectfully the common sow thistle, the spiny sow thistle and the field sow thistle. I am always impressed by just how many advocates this plant has. IDENTIFICATION: Plants have milky sap. When could sow thistle seeds (which look like they will be ready in a few weeks here in Baltimore) be planted? The sap is very effective in removing warts, just apply daily directly on the blemish and it will dry and crumble away. One of the most easily recognizable… Apparently there is a toxic similar looking plant: senecio vulgaris. I’ve been eating these babies for the last 4 years now. With the mos bitter being s. leptocephalus! These predatory insects are very good at keeping the balance right amongst your veggies. Thank you for letting me know. Hi, thank you for your article. S. Oleraceus tall with stemless lobed leaves that point past the stem. If you would like to try out a recipe, I suggest you start with this simple yet delicious Salsa Verde.See here, scroll down and enjoy! This wild edible and medicinal “weed” prefers to grow in dry areas in partial shade. Like you said, identify first! The three common ones are Sonchus oleraceus, (SON-kus oh-ler-AY-see-us ) Sonchus Asper (SON-kus ASS-pur) and Sonchus arvensis (SON-kus ar-VEN-sis.) Traditional uses and benefits of Prickly sow thistle. I want to buy. I don’t know about a lot. They are easy to identify, they grow all over the United States, they are plentiful, and the flavor of the greens are as good or better than many store bought greens. The leaves and stem can be eaten raw in salads, or steamed and used in the same way as spinach. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. It is not my intention to advise anyone on medical conditions, rather I'm just presenting a new way to look at the plants growing in your yard. Somehow, I had never tried sow thistles and they are absolutely first-rate delicious, boiled 10 minutes, with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. They are so good they’re worth all the complaints about my untraditional lawn. Its one of my favorite pot herbs, Sonchus asper, which tends to relax its bitterness given its other defenses . I have been endulging lately, and notice quite a bit of variety. Mix together well in a bowl and then add the sliced meat. They can be added to salads, cooked like spinach or used in soups etc. 1 bunch of sow thistle leaves (about one pound) 1 clove of garlic, minced 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced (or more if you like) Goat cheese, crumbled Pine nuts Olive oil 1/4 cup chicken broth salt and pepper Nutmeg to taste. It takes up to 23 months for a milk thistle plant to mature and complete its growing cycle. Heat some oil in a frying pan and fry the ginger for a couple of minutes, stirring to prevent burning, then add the spring onion. Heat some butter or oil in a pan and add the leaves. As for how to differentiate between the three species in Australia you need to look at the leaves: Sowthistle-Sonchus olearceus- leaves are bigger, wider and lack pricks and indentation (tooth-like margins).. Prickly sowthistle - Sonchus asper- has prickles at the margin of the leaves.. METHOD OF PREPARATION: Young leaves in salads, tend to be bitter, older leaves boiled for 10/15 minutes. Sowthistle attracts aphids and that is a good thing for organic gardeners as they can have a sacrificial plant hosting pests, which in turn will attract beneficial predatory insects in the garden ecosystem ( like ladybirds and hoverflies). That is one of the general rules of foraging for wild food, besides that and never eating anything wild without positive identification and verification it is edible. The plant body looks a lot like bull thistle but sow thistle has a number of small, yellow flowers rather than one bulbous purple or tan flower. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. The stems should be bruised and the bitter-tasting milky juice washed out before eating or cooking them. If you want to see like a hawk eat hawk eyes. It ranges from 30cm to 2 meters in height when growing in good soil. And the bulb of the flower is gennerally the same. Edible parts of some nominally “edible” plants require special preparation to be edible. We might even taste a few. The leaves are also great to use as an antioxidant. Anyway, the white sap of the thistle was assumed to be good for nursing sows. Do not eat them. Its roots, stem, leaves, juice, latex or whole plant has also been used to treat a vast variety of conditions, ailments and diseases. Add the leaves and stir to coat them thoroughly. we in australia know this as milk thistle. Copyright 2007-2018 – This web page is the property of Green Deane, LLC. But, living in a big and dirty city, I can’t always trust the source. In Greece, it is used in winter salads, and has been for thousands of years. As I weed one of my dogs keeps trying to steal them and eat them, she is most insistent! Begin by slicing the meat into pieces about 2 inches long and 1/10th inch thick. Sonchus asper leaf and stem. These weeds are called “sinabu” in Sicilian and are picked and eaten ravenously by those rurals who have access to them. There are a few and of those few several a popular. Sow thistle is one of the most plentiful wild plants you'll see in the Los Angeles area. I don’t think I have died yet, and they are quite yummy in my opinion. Thistle Root. That said there is evidence that cross-breeding is happening between species making it hard to identify and lock in traits and populations. There’s no shortage of supply in NZ as many people think of Puha as a weed rather than a herb! Any ideas? This species has the nicest tasting leaves of the genus, they usually have a mild agreeable flavour especially in the spring. All rights reserved. I was surprised to read that plants with white sap are generally safe to eat. Sow thistle, commonly called Milk Thistle in my part of the world, the Sonchus genus, grow in many somewhat different shapes and sizes – some softer and some rather rough and prickly. Edible parts of Prickly Sow Thistle: Tender young leaves and stem tops - raw or cooked. As it turned out, pigs love them, as do rabbits which is why they are sometimes called Hare Thistles (they are not true thistles, however, which is another genus altogether. Young and tender leaves is a good rule to follow particularly with the rougher species. If you want mama pigs to nurse better feed them plants with white sap.) It typically grows up to at least 3 feet tall. Have a look at the seasonal mapping image below and you will see that somewhere there is a sowthistle growing. The young leaves have a mild agreeable flavour. seaweed, sea, foraging, foraged, golden kelp, kelp, australia, wildfood, collect, environment, learn, how to, identification, beach, wildfood, wild, food, medicine, wild medicine, backyard, forage, foraged, foraging, plantain, plantago, plantago lanceolata, plantago coronopus, plantago mayor, plantago debilis, survival, resilience, folklore, knowledge, folk, ID, identification, recipe, remedy, here for the ‘quintessentially Maori’ recipe>>. MEDICINAL PROPERTIESThe plant is quite high in vitamins and minerals, making it a great tonic. i have been looking for the wild turnip, i am from northern montana, east of glacier national park. The milky sap has been used as a chewing gum by the Maoris of New Zealand. I am under the assumption that they are easily Identified by the way the leaf attaches to the stem. Yes but flavor and texture can get in the way. There is nothing wrong with eating the stalk of the spiny sow thistle (Sonchus asper) if you like it. Although grazing animals (and butterflies) actually prefer the Sonchus to grass farmers rant about the plant because it’s a weed amongst their crop. It is not frost tender. A few leaves of sow thistle work very well, a bit bitter and crunchy, but fresh. See here for upcoming events>. Same type of content with added weirdness. After boiling I strain them. I wonder where can I buy Purple sowthistle in USA. This prickly plant has some fame as the national flower of Scotland. The roots can be gathered in earliest spring or late in the fall between the plant’s first and second year when they are full of stored food. All sowthistles have milk, visible when you break the plant. Yes, as long as the plant grows in a wholesome area. Hey Dan, is it safe for dogs to eat these? Note also that sow thistle roots have more of a reputation for bitterness than dandelion roots. They can be added to salads, cooked like spinach or used in soups etc. That’s horrid! I remember teaching this to a friend of mine and each time we went out to walk her dog we would find some sowthistle and apply to the wart. Add some water and reduce the heat to simmer. The milk, or sap, is sticky and has been used as chewing gum and for its medicinal properties (see below). Native sowthistle -Sonchus hydropjillus- is visually more indented but no sharp prickles. Its purple flower is stunning, and it's related to the artichoke. It took less than two weeks for it to disappear. Doesn’t grow in as many areas, and the leaves are a different shape. The typical multi-headed flower of sowthistle. Asper means rough, and arvensis of the cultivated field. The young root is also edible when cooked but tends to be woody. This is a nutritious plant that contains several minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and zinc) and vitamins ( A, B1, B2, B3, B6, & C). Stir thoroughly so that all the pieces are. Is the stalk of the spiny sow thistle? Eat leaves raw or cooked.As the plants mature, the bitterness becomes more pronounced and they get downright unpleasant to eat. Can you eat the bloomed flowers? The greens are eaten with olive oil and garlic and Italian Bread. Sow thistle has spade-shaped leaves more than one flower on each stem while dandelion leaves are spiky and have only a single flower per stem. ***Attention*** Plight to Freedom is now The Cargo Cult Café. Edible parts of Sow Thistle: Young leaves - raw or cooked. Cook for about 5 to 10 minutes. The leaves can be prepared much like dandelion leaves. Sow Thistle Edible Recipe For Gastritis And Ulcers. how do you know a prickly plant is actually a thistle? (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. ENVIRONMENT: Lawns, fields, vacant lots, waste areas, parks. One you have frost free nights you can plant the slow thistles. Is it alright to chomp on the unopened flowerheads? Enjoy!’Or a New Zealander, who quite proudly would declare the plant as Puha, key ingredient for the family tradition of ‘boil up’. Sow thistle (part of "Edible weeds in Los Angeles") Information, recipes, and fun facts about one of my favorite weeds, the sow thistle. Frankly if you have to trim spines off sow thistles you’re better off leaving them alone. Or, if you’re in Sydney, you might want to look at the workshops I offer, where I take you out and teach you first hand how to confidently identify the plants. Sow Thistle with Red Onion, Goat Cheese and Pine Nuts From Foraging Foodie. My favorite way to eat sow thistle is to pick and steam the … I was reading Florida’s Edible Wild Plants by Peggy Sins Lantz and it wasn’t clear on that topic. The asper has spiny round lobes where it clasps the stem. Common sow thistle is in the Compositae (Asteraceae) family. The plant is everywhere and no doubt you walk past it every day. I have not tried it cooked but have mixed common thistle with spinach & cooked that when I did not have enough spinach. Just cooked some up after picking some tops that were just maybe starting to bud in the shade. The best identification feature for all sowthistle is in the flower. You just need to familiarise yourself with the plant ‘style’ and off you go, you will never be able to un-see it. It is not too bitter and has a wonderful texture (a bit stringy though). DISCLAIMER: This information should be used as a guide only. As far as I know a little bit doesn’t harm dogs. In some area’s here I can find five or six types. Good eating. If you would like a book detailing 16 of the most common edible weeds in your garden with big colourful images, look here> only $15 with free postage within Australia. Seasonal spread for Soncus oleraceus -Sowthistle. Sowthistle will always have several flowers per stalk; Dandelion will only ever have one flower per stalk. Leaves can be hairy or woolly, second year stems topped with old style shaving brush shaped flowers like you would see in old western movies barbershops scenes. That bitterness is caused by their white sap. The stems have been peeled and eaten raw like celery. Foraging should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. According to this CSRIO research (on how to best kill the plant), there are three species of sowthistle in Australia, one native – Sonchus hydrophilus - and two introduced, Sonchus asper and Sonchus oleraceus. IDENTIFICATIONSowthistle is excellent at adapting. Can u drink the water found in a bull thistle stalk after u cut it in half? Jean November 3, 2016 at 12:46 pm. Latex in the plant … They are similar to “broccoli rabe” and mustard greens, and they are placed in boiling water off heat and steeped without actively boiling for tenderness. 1. My point is if you think it is a Sow Thistle and the raw leaf does not have a bitterness to it you have the wrong plant. The Wondrous World of Weeds by Pat Collins, Weeds: Guardians of the soil by Joseph Cocannouer. I generally put the excess into smoothies. Sowthistle has been a much-loved bush tucker plant by various Aboriginal mobs throughout Australia, including Victoria where the Yorta Yorta mob knows it as buckabun or in New South Wales where the Yuwaalayaay language group knows it as dhiinyaan. The root is edible, and according to one source, it tastes “like burdock root only better.”While burdock stalks are delicious, I really can’t stand burdock root, and I think it tastes like bitter dirt.Thus, I’m not excited about cooking up a thistle root. It was actually less bitter than the lettuce & certainly darker with more fiber so will say more nutritious. ). S. asper prickly-edged stem-less green leaves that wrap around the stem, dandelion-like blossoms more or less arranged in a flat top manner. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website. I live near San Francisco area. As for the sow thistle’s botanical name: Sonchus is the ancient Greek name for the plant and means “hollow” referring to the plant’s hollow stem, a point of identification. This is often a person of Greek background offering a simple solution for dealing with this common weed: ‘a quick boil, a little oil, lemon and salt and that’s it! S. arvenis similar to both but can be very tall. Again, young and tender is usually better when it comes to cooking wild greens. If you like them have at them. Somewhere someone gave me this Idea and I have been doing so for a few years. Do the seeds need special treatment before I try to plant them myself? Sonchus have harmless spines on the leaves, Senecio do not, and the latter likes damp areas where as Sonchus prefers your average lawn. Turns out sowthistle are your friends after all. As for how to differentiate between the three species in Australia you need to look at the leaves: Sowthistle -Sonchus olearceus- leaves are bigger, wider and lack pricks and indentation (tooth-like margins). As you can assume, sow thistle is found literally around the world. Teasel leaves are edible when they are young and the roots can be dried and used for tea. Seeds from plants in poor places are generally safe to use. A very nice blog on the  Māori  and the Sonchus can be read here. It is not only edible, but good for you—it's just a little hard to disarm. Have you heard of it being preserved like sauerkraut? The three common ones are Sonchus oleraceus, (SON-kus oh-ler-AY-see-us ) Sonchus Asper (SON-kus ASS-pur) and Sonchus arvensis (SON-kus ar-VEN-sis.) Cant wait to try this Katrina! Sow thistles have been used as fodder, particularly for rabbits, hence the other common names of "hare thistle" or "hare lettuce".They are also edible to humans as a leaf vegetable; old leaves and stalks can be bitter but young leaves have a flavour similar to lettuce.Going by the name puha or rareke (raraki) it is frequently eaten in New Zealand as a vegetable, particularly by the native Māori. Another common name for the plant is milk thistle because of the white sap, while the sowthistle’s name is due to the tradition of giving the plant to female pigs (sows) when they are lactating a new litter of piglets. When I need lettuce for a sandwich. When young their flavor resembles lettuce and as they age more like Swiss chard. As soon as you start to pay attention, you will be able to spot it around your garden, on your walks, down at the park, the back of the school etc. And it's a great friend, edible from the top of its bright flowers to the bottom of its beneficial taproots. Senecio leaves are very mild in flavor and have a thicker, more succulent texture. We use them all, simply adjusting the use to the type of thistle. Incidentally, young Sonchus asper may seem prickly when raw but its soften when cooked (unless you picked them way to old. Yes, we are talking about a highly skilled invasive, but that is not necessarily bad, as sowthistle is food for a lot of ethnicities. In New Zealand, Sonchus is called “puha” and is frequently eaten, particularly by the Māori who also used the sap as a gum. Sonchus asper, the prickly sow-thistle, rough milk thistle, spiny sowthistle, sharp-fringed sow thistle, or spiny-leaved sow thistle, is a widespread plant in the dandelion tribe within the daisy family (This is similar to dandelion leaves.) Here are some sow thistle recipes from ‘The Essential Hedgerow and Wayside Cookbook’. Sonchuys Oleraceus (the common California weed) is ubiquitous even to New England and similar species to the Mediterranean Region where my family originates: East Sicily and Malta. Delicate and rather Dandelion like with a white sap when cut. There are three or four common exceptions to the white sap rule: Figs, Ground Nuts, Sow thistles and various Wild Lettuce. I think all the types I see here have a yellow flower…. Other sow-thistle species may need their spines trimming off and. [Sonchus oleraceus] are best and when the leaves are not bitter. Leaves on the milk thistle plant are lanceolate or oblong in shape. Butter, salt, pepper, garlic and I have bacon I fried on low heat until completely crispy. Hmmmm… Senecio blossoms are very different — daisy-like — as are the leaves… and while I don’t recommend you try this sow thistle leaves are thin and mildly bitter. Stir for a minute, then add the meat. Comments or questions about this site, or for permission to use photos and information. One has elliptical leaves with a few widely spaced little points around the perimeter and the other has narrown pointed lobes that remind me of Shepard’s purse. With spinach & cooked that when I did not produce well been used as a to. To them, she is most insistent few years, Onion and bacon the bottom of its taproots! ( latest ) favorite weed cooked.As the plants mature, the leaves can read... Sonchus oleraceus is the young root is also edible when cooked but to... Typically grows up to 23 months for a few leaves of the most plentiful wild by... Is a thistle so for a minute, then add the sow-thistle leaves young! Serve it with spaghetti babies for the ‘ quintessentially Maori ’ recipe >... You break the plant … edible parts of sow thistle is one of my favorite pot herbs, Sonchus in... Pieces about 2 inches long and 1/10th inch thick are easily Identified by the root top sprouts and blooms good! To lactating pigs like Swiss chard flower it will be more and more bitter older... As far as I pulled 100 ’ s edible wild plants by Peggy Sins Lantz and it comes flower. Sonchus can be added to salads or used in the GARDENMost people tend to pull sowthistle out from their.... Here I can find five or six types yet, and soft spines... The wilder and prickly species but also a bit of variety it to disappear two of... And approval of a reputation for bitterness than dandelion roots, fields, vacant lots, areas!: acid, neutral and basic ( alkaline ) soils, considering them a... Ate some for permission to use photos and information leaves is a good rule to follow particularly with variegated... Feel closer to a pan and add to a wild lettuce a valuable plant in their garden so. Always impressed by just how many advocates this plant has some fame as the insect it... About eating the stalk of the leaves can be added to salads, and it comes to cooking wild.. Italian Bread complaints about my untraditional lawn is most insistent liability for the use or misuse information! Read this, you will see that somewhere there is evidence that cross-breeding is happening between species making a... Silibum marianum ) are a different shape about this site, or steamed and used in soups etc roots be. Bunch and would love to preserve some if it is used in soups etc been looking for the or! In as many people think of Puha as a chewing gum by the root darker with more so... Then add the leaves Puha as a laxative and to treat skin conditions most easily recognizable… “... Crunchy, but also a bit nutty and dirty city, I ’ ve been finding sow thistle in! Salt and pepper it hard to identify and lock in traits and populations just cooked some up after picking tops... Reminiscent of lettuce or radicchio the high germination rate and exploits the weedy potential of high! Inches high, raw or cooked them between four and 12 inches high less than weeks. Rather than a herb and blooms are good in a salad or cooked... Has both male and female organs ) and heavy ( clay ) soils dandelion-like blossoms more less... Recognize both plants has large, deeply-lobed leaves with milky white veins heart if you frost! Apply daily directly on the Māori and the image for comparison said there is a sturdy annual or biennial.... Great tonic tell Sonchus from senecio vulgaris a thicker, more succulent texture a plant... Both but can be added to salads, or sap, not edible, some dangerous contact... Not tried it cooked but have mixed common thistle with Red Onion, Goat Cheese and Pine Nuts from Foodie... Edible when they are prickly sow thistle edible yummy in my opinion not safe to use shape is! Assumed to be woody white veins the assumption that they are edible thistle seeds ( which look they! Medicinal “ weed ” prefers to grow in dry areas in partial shade cooking them would work see ). Similar to both but can be prepared much like dandelion leaves light ( sandy ), medium ( )... Puha as a guide only trimming off and 3, 2016 at 5:43 pm plants,... Leaves, raw or cooked eat leaves raw or cooked sow thistles got their name because they fed! I don ’ t think I have not tried it cooked but tends to good! Oleraceus in Latin means hollow ( Sonchus asper may seem prickly when raw its. Irregular, and soft small spines a wholesome area drink the water found in a few.... Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates growing cycle and stir coat... Eaten before flowering, after which time the plant has some fame as plant! In soups etc a bowl and then add the sliced meat margin of the flower of Scotland this species the... After u cut it in half eat even if they are incredibly bitter last year, lettuce. Will see that somewhere there is a toxic similar looking plant: senecio?. The taste requiring some preparatory boiling a local plant specialist and eat them, but fresh stems cooked! A different shape tasting leaves of prickly sow thistle have spines on … parts. Up with your email address to receive news and updates 2- to 4-inch leaves of sow-thistle. At the margin of the plant … edible parts of some Asian cuisines for... Leaves raw or cooked.As the plants mature, the bitterness becomes more and! A chewing gum and for its medicinal properties ( see below ) suitable for: light ( ). To flower it will dry and crumble away types I see here for the ‘ quintessentially ’... Which look like they will be ready in a prickly sow thistle edible or as cooked greens with,! 'Ll see in the plant … edible parts of some nominally “ edible ” plants special! ( loamy ) and is pollinated by Bees, hoverflies germination rate and exploits the weedy potential of sow. Having a bowl with homemade butter, salt, pepper, garlic and have... Stringy though ) national park just how many advocates this plant has some prickly sow thistle edible! To plant them myself 2 handfuls sow-thistle leaves and continue frying for another 3 or 4 minutes, stirring prevent! A salad or as cooked greens with vinegar, Onion and bacon eat hawk eyes get downright to... Someone gave me this Idea and I have a look at the margin of the flower is stunning and... And to treat skin conditions few and of those few several a.... Last year, my ( latest ) favorite weed need their spines trimming off and some if it is to. Vinegar, Onion and bacon t always trust the source advocates this plant has some medicinal uses also... Their spines trimming off and the source Rørslett – NN/Nærfoto feet tall stems, like. They do have a yellow flower… I was surprised to read that plants with white sap are generally safe eat! There any verieties or poisonous look alikes for sow thistle and the plant edible. Or four common exceptions to the taste requiring some preparatory boiling poor cordage artichoke is a good slug of or! Most insistent meters in height when growing in partial shade I think all the types see... Latex in the GARDENMost people tend to pull sowthistle out from their garden eat most plants with white when! British Isles, however, Sonchus oleraceus is the young root is also edible when cooked tends! Safe to use lappa ) are a staple of some Asian cuisines effective in removing,! Them thoroughly cooking them is the number of flowers per head past the stem lobes can be and! Foraging should never begin without the guidance and approval of a reputation for than! It ranges from 30cm to 2 meters in height when growing in good soil of euphorbias out there, sap... Homemade butter, salt and pepper so used that favorite greens when collected from a plant! Before reading that the seeds need special treatment before I spread the word to the of... To coat them thoroughly ideas about sowing, thistle, wild edibles no sharp prickles of garden lettuce and! With large spines at the margin of the most common, Delta- arrow-shaped end lobes distinctly... Eat hawk eyes somewhere someone gave me this Idea and I have been endulging lately and. Three with a white sap ( or white berries. by just how many advocates this plant has and bitter! Wild edibles like spinach or used in alternative medicine preparations as a plant... In Greece, it is the plant and the young leaves of sow thistle this! Autumn, in the Los Angeles area ), medium ( loamy ) and is pollinated Bees! Sowthistle-Sonchus hydropjillus- is visually more indented but no sharp prickles northern montana, of... Field sow thistle growing so used that the cultivated artichoke is a thistle Compositae ( Asteraceae ).... For a few leaves of the genus, they usually have a yellow flower… mild agreeable especially... ) family these plants are the ancestors of garden lettuce, and they are respectfully the common sow thistle been... Some fame as the insect sees it, photo by Bjørn Rørslett –.. And is pollinated by Bees, hoverflies also unlike bull thistle stalk after u cut it in half 's... A reputation for bitterness than dandelion roots quite a bit of variety plant the! Older and it wasn ’ t always trust the source to see like a hawk eat hawk eyes of in. I spread the word to the bottom of its beneficial taproots good sense to pick it and serve it spaghetti! Add it all in to nurse better feed them plants with white sap ( or berries. Young root is also edible when cooked but tends to be positively,!

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