Milk thistle - organic-seeds

Milk thistle

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) is an impressive biennial plant with spiny, dark green leaves marbled with white. In summer, it produces large, globe-shaped pink-purple flowers, which are not only visually striking but also attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Native to the Mediterranean region, milk thistle has long been valued for its medicinal properties. Its seeds contain silymarin, a compound that protects and regenerates the liver. In herbal medicine, milk thistle is used to support liver function, improve digestion, and help detoxify the body.

Ecologically, milk thistle is also valuable: its flowers provide nectar for pollinators, and in autumn, its seeds are eaten by birds such as goldfinches.

Cultivation Tips

• Sowing: direct sow outdoors from April to May, in rows 40–50 cm apart; can also be sown under glass in March–April

• Location: full sun

• Soil: poor to average, well-draining, preferably calcareous; avoid wet areas

• Flowering: June–August, usually in the second year

• Height: 100–150 cm

• Features: biennial, drought-tolerant and winter-hardy

• Care: minimal; water during germination, then grows independently

• Use: medicinal, ornamental, and nectar-rich

Strong, robust, and ornamental — milk thistle adds structure and character to the garden, attracts pollinators and birds, and is renowned for its liver-protecting benefits.