Silybum Marianum.
Milk Thistle is an annual or biennial herb in the Asteraceae family, which includes sunflowers, artichokes, and lettuce.
Native to the Mediterranean and southwestern Europe, this plant has long been used in traditional medicine and is most often brewed into milk thistle tea for its supposed benefits to liver health and function.
All portions of the plant are edible including the leaves, which are used to brew milk thistle tea and can be added to salads as a substitute for spinach, the stems and flowers, and even the seeds, which are also used in milk thistle tea or can be roasted and brewed for a coffee substitute.
Human uses aside, butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are also quite fond of this plant!
Grows to between 3 and 7 feet in height and produces 2 to 3 inch wide pinkish-purple flowers that appear in mid-summer to early fall.
Disclaimer: Milk Thistle is considered a noxious weed in some states, so please verify its status with your local agricultural agency before purchasing.
Purple Milk Thistle
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9 Light Requirement: Full sun Soil Type: Loamy, sandy, clay Sow Depth: 1/8 inch Plant Spacing: 24 to 36 inches Germination Temp: 70°F Germination Time: 7 to 14 days Bloom Time: Mid-summer to early fall Growing Tips
Direct sow in early spring or late fall by spreading the seeds over the desired area. Seeds require light to germinate, so be sure to cover them very lightly with soil.
To start indoors, sow seeds on the soil's surface in a seed flat or cell tray. Cover lightly with soil, and place tray beneath a grow light. Keep soil moist until germination, would should occur within 7 to 14 days,