Field Sowthistle

Sonchus arvensis

-30

Harmful

Not native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 29%

Height: Stems are erect, 0.1 to 0.4 inches in diameter, and most commonly 24 to 59 inches tall, although they range from 12 to 71 inches tall.
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to average

No photograph yet. Looking for an old drawing…

Do not plant. Listed invasive in West Virginia.

At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial

Not yet recorded · Spread · Light · Leaves · Bloom

This plant is missing most of its facts, so Quercus is looking them up in old botany books.

Recorded in 1 West Virginia county.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

3CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Sonchus

Anarta trifoliiThe Nutmeg, Clover Cutworm
Phycitodes reliquellaWhite-Edged Phycitodes
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)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Asteraceae

What its natural habitat tells you

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

Growing sources and scope

Height · “Stems are erect, 0.1 to 0.4 inches (3-10 mm) in diameter, and most commonly 24 to 59 inches (60-150 cm) tall; although they range from 12 to 71 inches (30-180 cm) tall.” · Fire Effects Information System: Sonchus arvensis (ranked first; Minnesota Wildflowers differs) · Source botanical description; original units and scope retained
Life cycle · “Perennial” · Minnesota Wildflowers

Also known as

Field Sow Thistle

Conservation status

West Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
WV status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

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