Flowers , Milk Thistle - (St Maria's Thistle)

Silybum marianum, a Medicinal Annual / Biennial Herb, is A striking herb that makes a statement in the garden. 3-4 ft tall with glossy, milky-white veined leaves & showy, 2-inch red-purple summer flowers & hefty brown-black seeds. All parts are edible. Medicinally the active ingredient is found in the seeds. The tap-rooted plant does poorly in pots. Best in full sun, with poor to medium fertile, soil & moderate water. But will tolerate drought, any soil, & partial shade. Flowers attract bees & butterflies. Remove flowers after bloom to limit self-sowing., Seed Count Approx - 15 avg

  SOWING - Grow in poor to medium fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Protect from excessive winter wet, Late Summer planting for the rosette and full height plant in the following Spring, No pruning is required, remove flowers after bloom