Quercus

Prickly Sowthistle

Sonchus asper

Not native to South Carolina

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

3CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including SC

Genus host records with ranges including SC · Sonchus

  • Phycitodes reliquellaWhite-Edged Phycitodes
  • Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
1Specialist beesPollen specialists

Pollen specialists · Sonchus

  • Andrena chromotricha
Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
6BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Sonchus

  • Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
  • Junco hyemalisDark-eyed Junco
  • Melospiza melodiaSong Sparrow
  • Perdix perdixGray Partridge
  • Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
  • Zonotrichia leucophrysWhite-crowned Sparrow
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Asteraceae
Flower color
Yellow

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Spiny Leaf Sow Thistle

Conservation status

South Carolina rankNot available
Global rankGNR
SC statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources