Photo: Yan WongCC BY 2.0via Wikimedia Commonsresized / cropped
Slender Blue Sow Thistle Plant Care
Cicerbita tenerrima Beauverd
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Lactuca tenerrima is a species of wild lettuce native to southern France, Spain, the Balearic Islands, and the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Unlike other species in its genus Lactuca, even in its family Asteraceae, it does not produce bitter-tasting sesquiterpene lactones.
Every 3–5 days
Partial shade to full sun
50–75°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Slender Blue Sow Thistle?
Water Slender Blue Sow Thistle every 3–5 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it partial shade to full sun. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Slender Blue Sow Thistle?
Slender Blue Sow Thistle (Cicerbita tenerrima) belongs to the Asteraceae family within the Cicerbita genus. Slender Blue Sow Thistle is native to southern France, Spain, the Balearic Islands, and the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Slender Blue Sow Thistle is also known as Cicerbita tenerrima, Lactuca segusiana, Wiestia tenerrima.
Slender Blue Sow Thistle displays a clumping herbaceous perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Slender Blue Sow Thistle produces small daisy-like flowers in shades of blue, purple, or white.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Slender Blue Sow Thistle?
Cicerbita tenerrima requires watering every 3–5 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 3–5 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Slender Blue Sow Thistle Need?
Slender Blue Sow Thistle thrives in partial shade to full sun.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Slender Blue Sow Thistle Prefer?
Cicerbita tenerrima grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Slender Blue Sow Thistle prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Slender Blue Sow Thistle?
Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Slender Blue Sow Thistle to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Slender Blue Sow Thistle?
Feed Slender Blue Sow Thistle every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Slender Blue Sow Thistle?
Divide and repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Slender Blue Sow Thistle?
Slender Blue Sow Thistle can be propagated through seeds, division of root clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to blue sow thistle plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Slender Blue Sow Thistle Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Slender Blue Sow Thistle, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Slender Blue Sow Thistle?
Slender Blue Sow Thistle is susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, leafhoppers. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Slender Blue Sow Thistle Need?
Slender Blue Sow Thistle grows outdoors in USDA Zone 8a – 10b. It survives winters down to planting zone 8a. Slender Blue Sow Thistle is native to southern France, Spain, the Balearic Islands, and the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 8a – 10b
Keep exploring plants
Slender Blue Sow Thistle is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Cicerbita genus — compare its care with other Cicerbita species on PlantoScan.
Cicerbita is part of the Asteraceae plant family — browse all Asteraceae genera and species.
Slender Blue Sow Thistle thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Cicerbita tenerrima Beauverd, family Asteraceae (first published in Bull. Soc. Bot. Genève , sér. 2, 2: 136 (1910)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Slender Blue Sow Thistle, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Yan Wong, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 8a – 10b, estimated from the plant's typical growing conditions.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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