Sowthistles are annual, biennial or perennial herbs, with or without rhizomes and a few are even woody (subgenus Dendrosonchus, restricted to the Canary Islands and Madeira).

[11] Sow thistles are common roadside plants, and while native to Eurasia and tropical Africa, they are found almost worldwide in temperate regions.

[12] Mature sow thistle stems can range from 30 cm to 2 m (1 to 6 ft) tall, depending upon species and growing conditions.

[13] In many areas sow thistles are considered noxious weeds,[14] as they grow quickly in a wide range of conditions and their wind-borne seeds allow them to spread rapidly.

However, sow thistles are easily uprooted by hand, and their soft stems present little resistance to slashing or mowing.

Sonchus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera including Celypha rufana and the broad-barred white, grey chi, nutmeg, and shark moths.