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Sow thistle
Sow thistle botanical plate
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Sow thistle

Sonchus oleraceus
In the United States: Naturalized · also called common sowthistle, annual sow thistle, smooth sow-thistle

Yellow-flowered annual that supplies nectar and pollen to honeybees from dandelion-like heads in disturbed sites and waste ground. Flowers open for only a short daily window but the plant reflowers continuously over many weeks, offering a steady minor resource during periods of scarcity. Sucrose-rich nectar and pollen containing essential amino acids support foragers without producing major honey flows.

Nectarlow
Pollenlow
Bloom (US) April–October
Duration~2 months
TypePerennial
Sunfull

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