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milk thistle

milk thistle

Silybum marianum

herbaceous☀️ full sun💧 low waterZone 5a – Zone 11b

A tall, thistle-like plant with spiny purple-pink flower heads and distinctive white-veined green foliage. Valued for ornamental appeal and medicinal seed pods, it thrives in hot, dry conditions with minimal care.

Overview

Form
Upright
Growth Rate
fast
Size
2–4′ tall × 1.5–2.5′ wide
Dormancy
deciduous

Tolerances & Soil

high
Zone 5aZone 11b
1471013
ColderWarmer
Zone range: Zone 5a to Zone 11b

Seasonality

Bloom Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Harvest Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Season of Interest

Summer

Herb

Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.

Succession Role

pioneer

Native Range

Mediterranean

Function & Care

dynamic accumulatormedicinalpollinator nectarywildlife benefitedible

Edible Parts

seedleafroot

Establishment & Care

Establishment
easy
Maintenance
low
Years to Bearing
1 years
Propagation
seed

Companion Planting

Plants well with

Notable Cultivars

Most milk thistle grown is the species itself rather than named cultivars; plants are selected primarily for seed yield and silymarin content rather than ornamental traits.