Blue Sowthistle (Blue Sow Thistle, Common Blue Sowthistle, Alpine Blue-sow-thistle)
Safe to Feed
- Common Name: Blue Sowthistle (Blue Sow Thistle, Common Blue Sowthistle, Alpine Blue-sow-thistle)
- Latin Name: Cicerbita, esp. C. macrophylla, C. alpina, C. plumieri
- Family Name: Asteraceae/Compositae
This tall (it can grow up to 2 m) perennial is said to have escaped from gardens in the UK in the 19th century and can now be found growing wild in small pockets around the country. Although it is related to the more common Sow Thistle, it is in a different genus, and its flower is often confused with that of another relation, the Wild Chicory.
It is perfectly safe to feed to tortoises, but if you find it growing in the wild, do not pick it as it is still relatively rare in the UK (and almost unknown in the far south) and is an officially protected plant.
It is perfectly safe to feed to tortoises, but if you find it growing in the wild, do not pick it as it is still relatively rare in the UK (and almost unknown in the far south) and is an officially protected plant.
