Milk Thistle
ExplorePlants
Milk Thistle
Silybum marianum
Milk Thistle is a spiky plant with beautiful purple flowers. It's known for its prickly leaves and white veins. Bees love to visit its flowers!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Milk Thistle has striking purple, globe-shaped flowers surrounded by sharp, spiny bracts. Its large, glossy green leaves are distinctively marbled with bright white veins, giving them a milky appearance. This spiky plant often grows quite tall.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusSilybum
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient Greeks and Romans used Milk Thistle for its protective powers against various troubles!
Even though it's spiky, young Milk Thistle leaves and stems can be cooked and eaten like spinach!
One plant can produce thousands of seeds, ensuring new thistles sprout even after a tough year!
Some people believe its white leaf veins were inspired by milk from the Virgin Mary in an old legend!
Special abilities
Ability
Spiky Shield Armor
Milk Thistle has sharp spines on its leaves and flower bracts that help it defend against hungry herbivores.
Ability
Deep Root Drinker
Milk Thistle can grow a very long taproot that helps it find water deep underground to survive dry spells.
Ability
Wind-Powered Seeds
Each seed has a feathery tuft that lets the wind carry it far away to new growing spots.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 60-200 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 4-12 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer, Fall
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Biennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
eats
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Feeds on its nutrient-rich seeds.
eats
Thistle Aphid
Uroleucon cirsii
Feeds on the sap from its stems and leaves.
parasitizes
Thistle Rust
Puccinia carduorum
A fungus that can infect Milk Thistle leaves.
Traits
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Night Blooming
Night blooming plants open their flowers after sunset, often to attract nocturnal pollinators with their scent and appearance.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Also known as
Blessed ThistleHoly ThistleMarian Thistle
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Enjoy looking at Milk Thistle from a safe distance to avoid its prickly leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Milk Thistle?
60-200 cm
How wide does Milk Thistle spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Milk Thistle?
4-12 cm
When does Milk Thistle bloom?
Summer, Fall
Is Milk Thistle edible?
Yes
Is Milk Thistle toxic?
None
What is Milk Thistle's lifecycle?
Biennial
How is Milk Thistle pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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