Milk thistle growing herbaceous of the genus Silybum also known as Silybum marianum, Milk thistle annual or biennial plant also used as ornamentalmedical plant, can grow in mediterranean, desert, temperate or subtropical climate and growing in hardiness zone 6-11.
Leaves edible in the color green sometimes with white lines in the edge of the leaf there is spines.
Milk thistle flower
Flower head edible and there is spines, the color of the flower purple and rarely white and even pink.
Root edible in the color white with brownish peel,
Milk thistle for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy
Requirements for Milk thistle growing and care:
Nothing special
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seedling / Seed
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No
Difficulties or problems when growing:
Invasive
Planting season:
Spring in cold climate / Autumn in warm climate
Pests and diseases:
Powdery mildew
Pruning season:
All season
How to prune:
No need
Size of the plant?
0.5-1.8 m
Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing
Water requirement:
Small amount of water / Average amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun
Is it possible to grow as houseplant?
No
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes
Blooming information
Bloom season:
Spring in warm climate/ Summer in colder areas
General information about the flower
Purple and rarely white and even pink in the base of the flower there is spines
Pollination is done by:
Bees, butterfly +
Uses of Milk thistle flower:
Cooked
Edible leaves
Leaves harvesting season
Spring / Summer / Autumn to winter in hardiness zone 10-11
How to harvest the leaves?
In the base of the leaf
Information about leaves:
Green leaves sometimes with white lines in the edge of the leaf there is spines.
Uses of Milk thistle leaves:
Cooked, salad
Edible roots
Information about Milk thistle root:
White root with brownish peel,
When to pull up Milk thistle root:
Summer
Uses of Milk thistle root:
Cooked
Scientific name:
Silybum marianum
