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(Silybum marianum)
Blessed Milkthistle (Silybum marianum)
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Victoria Rivera
CC BY-SA 4.0
Image By:
Victoria Rivera
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY-SA 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Victoria Rivera | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ | Attribution: Victoria Rivera (cc-by-sa) | Rights Holder: Victoria Rivera | Publisher: PlantNet | Date Created: 2019-05-01T12:13:30Z | Title: Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.: flower | Notes: Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.: fruit |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Silybum marianum, commonly known as Blessed Milkthistle, is an annual or biennial herb native to a variety of habitats including rocky soils, roadsides, and open fields in Southern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Western Asia. It is not typically found in dense forests but rather thrives in disturbed areas. This thistle reaches 30 to 200 cm (12 to 79 in) in height and can have a base diameter of up to 160 cm (63 in). Its conical shape, grooved and occasionally cottony-fuzz-covered stem, and hollow stems in larger specimens are characteristic. Blessed Milkthistle blooms from June to August in the Northern Hemisphere and from December to February in the Southern Hemisphere. The red to purple flowers are showy and are surrounded by spine-edged bracts, while the shiny pale green leaves are distinct with their white veins. The fruits are black achenes topped with a white pappus and a yellow basal ring.
Blessed Milkthistle is known for its medicinal properties, particularly in liver health, and is also used as an ornamental plant due to its striking appearance. It is drought-tolerant and has low soil nutrient requirements, making it relatively easy to maintain. It is best grown in full sun and can adapt to a range of soil drainage conditions. However, it can be invasive outside its native range, so caution is advised. In cultivation, it is often used in naturalized areas, medicinal gardens, or as a feature plant in xeriscaping.CC BY-SA 4.0
Blessed Milkthistle is known for its medicinal properties, particularly in liver health, and is also used as an ornamental plant due to its striking appearance. It is drought-tolerant and has low soil nutrient requirements, making it relatively easy to maintain. It is best grown in full sun and can adapt to a range of soil drainage conditions. However, it can be invasive outside its native range, so caution is advised. In cultivation, it is often used in naturalized areas, medicinal gardens, or as a feature plant in xeriscaping.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 3-6 feet
- Width: 3-4 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Purple
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Water Garden
Natural Habitat
Variety of habitats including rocky soils, roadsides, and open fields
Other Names
Common Names: St. Mary’s Thistle, Variegated Artichoke, Variegated Thistle, Milk Thistle, Bull Thistle, Holy Thistle, Blessed Milk Thistle, Gundagai Thistle, Lady’s Thistle, Shawk El-Gamal
Scientific Names: , Silybum marianum, Carduus marianus, Mariana mariana, Carthamus maculatum, Silybum leucanthum, Mariana lactea, Silybum marianum var. marianum, Carduus mariae, Carduus lactifolius
GBIF Accepted Name: Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.