Sonchus acaulis “Cerraja”

I love Sonchus! It is such a kooky plant. It basically looks like a dandelion on steroids. Native to the Canary Islands, home of many odd & wonderful plants, Sonchus acaulis grows a rosette of leaves that can get to be 3’ across with a thick woody base. The foliage is deeply lobed & fern-like. The plant grows to about 3-4’ tall & sprouts a 4-5’ tall flower spike in Spring/Summer. Each spike has many bright yellow “dandelion” flowers. Each flower is about 1-2” wide. In its native habitat it can be seen growing as an epiphyte on the trunk of the Canary Island Date Palm. So, obviously, it would like good drainage & does fine with low water. Plant parts can be combined with massage oil to “relax and dissolve emotions.” Very showy foliage and flowers.

Kelly Kilpatrick
Propagator