Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Smooth Sow-thistle

Sonchus oleraceus

Typically in season from April to September in the northern hemisphere. Found in disturbed, grassland.

Smooth Sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus)

Photo: Alvesgaspar · CC BY-SA 3.0

When Smooth Sow-thistle is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak April to September. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in July

Where it grows

Smooth Sow-thistle is usually found in disturbed, grassland.

Take Smooth Sow-thistle into the field

Open Smooth Sow-thistle in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Smooth Sow-thistle: common questions

When is Smooth Sow-thistle in season?

Smooth Sow-thistle is generally in season from April to September in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Smooth Sow-thistle grow?

Smooth Sow-thistle is usually found in disturbed, grassland.

Is Smooth Sow-thistle safe to forage?

Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits