Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Field Sowthistle

Sonchus arvensis

Typically in season from May to September in the northern hemisphere. Found in Disturbed ground, Grassland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Field Sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis)

Photo: (c) Dmitriy Bochkov, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dmitriy Bochkov · iNaturalist

When Field Sowthistle is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak May 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 September

Where it grows

Field Sowthistle is usually found in Disturbed ground, Grassland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: common ragwort, common sow thistle, prickly sow thistle. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Field Sowthistle into the field

Open Field Sowthistle 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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Field Sowthistle: common questions

When is Field Sowthistle in season?

Field Sowthistle is generally in season from May 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 Field Sowthistle grow?

Field Sowthistle is usually found in Disturbed ground, Grassland.

Is Field Sowthistle safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: common ragwort, common sow thistle, prickly sow thistle. Only forage with a confident ID. 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