• Perennial Sowthistle Plant 215x150

Category A Weed

Sunflower family (Asteraceae)

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Perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis)

    Stem

    • Up to 6 ft. tall, mostly unbranched except near the top where several flower stems form; exudes white, milky sap when broken

      Leaves

      • Alternate; upper leaves are smaller and fewer than lower leaves; leaf bases clasp the stem; exude white, milky sap when broken

      • Edges (margins) smooth to deeply lobed and spiny

        Flower

        • Yellow; less than 2 in. wide; base of flower is vase shaped; flower base and stalk usually covered with stiff, sticky hairs

          Root

          • Creeping root system

            Other

            • Grows best in moist, fertile soils; often infests crop fields, gardens, waste areas and ditch banks; known to occur in Elko, Humboldt, Lincoln, Storey and White Pine counties

            • Perennial; reproduces by seed and roots; seed is wind-dispersed

              Control

              • Apply 2,4-D, picloram, clopyralid or aminopyralid to actively growing plants before bud stage