Milk thistle

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,

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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