General Plant Information (Edit)
Life cycle: Annual
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Plant Height: 18-24 inches (45-60 cm)
Plant Spread: 24-36 inches (60-90 cm)
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Blue
Lavender
White
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Depth to plant seed: cover the seeds thin
Sow in situ
Start indoors
Can handle transplanting
Other info: seeds are very sticky and hard to clean.
Pollinators: Various insects
Miscellaneous: With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth

Image
Common names
  • Purple Milk Thistle
  • Edible Thistle
  • Boar Thistle

Photo Gallery
Location: Sicily, Italy
Date: 2013-04-13
photo by Mauricio Mercadante via EOL: https://eol.org/media/67813
Location: Botanical garden of Barcelona (Spain)
Date: 2022-04-16

Date: 2014-06-18
Location: Botanical garden of Barcelona (Spain)
Date: 2022-04-16
Location: Crete - Mili Gorge
Date: 2022-05-29
Location: Crete - Mili Gorge
Date: 2022-05-29
Location: Crete - Mili Gorge
Date: 2022-05-29
Location: Botanical garden of Barcelona (Spain)
Location: My garden in Belgium
Date: 2011-07-10
Location: My garden in Belgium
Date: 2011-07-09
Location: My garden in Belgium
Date: 2011-07-08

photo by ghislain118
Location: Levada Nova da Calheta - Madeira
Date: 2023-04-19
Location: Sao Laurenco - Madeira
Date: 2023-04-12
Location: Zone 7 My back yard
Date: 2019-07-08
First ever growing this. It has shiny, prickly leaves and a very
Location: My garden in Belgium
Date: 2011-07-10
Location: Levada Nova da Calheta - Madeira
Date: 2023-04-19
Location: Sao Laurenco - Madeira
Date: 2023-04-17
Location: Sao Laurenco - Madeira
Date: 2023-04-17

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