Milk Thistle Seeds
80-100 Days to maturity. Silybum marianum. Milk Thistle Seeds. Non-GMO, annual or biennial, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, and raised beds. Milk thistle is a striking, easy-to-grow herb with spiny green leaves marbled in white and crowned with brilliant purple flowers. Traditionally prized for its beneficial seeds, it can also be eaten in salads, smoothies, or steamed. It's best to use the younger plants. Be sure to remove the spines first. ~2,000 seeds/oz.
Note: cannot ship to Washington State
Download Free Herb Growing Guide PDF
Growing Milk Thistle in the Herb Garden
Sow milk thistle seeds directly outdoors 0.25 inches deep after the danger of frost has passed, or start indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting. Space plants 24-36 inches apart in rows 30-36 inches apart to allow their large rosettes to spread.
Milk thistle requires little maintenance and thrives in poor, well-drained soil. Provide full sun for best results. Its spiny leaves naturally deter many pests, making it easy to grow with minimal care.
Harvesting of Milk Thistle
Harvest seeds after the purple flowers fade and seed heads dry on the plant, typically late summer to early fall. Cut the mature blooms and dry them before removing seeds with gloves, as the plant is spiny.
Milk thistle seeds are often roasted for tea or ground into powder for herbal remedies. Younger leaves can be eaten raw or lightly cooked as a bitter green.
About Milk Thistle Garden Seeds
Milk thistle has been grown for centuries as a medicinal plant, especially valued for its silymarin compound believed to support liver health.
It grows naturally in the Mediterranean but has adapted to warmer regions worldwide due to its resilience and ability to thrive in poor soils.
Beyond herbal medicine, it also serves as a pollinator-friendly plant, attracting bees and butterflies with its striking purple blooms.
Stories From Our Gardeners
"Milk thistle’s unique white-veined leaves were once said to be touched by the Virgin Mary’s milk, giving rise to its name and long history in herbal medicine. Its seeds remain one of the most renowned natural remedies for liver support today."
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- Jerry Sawyer, True Leaf Market Writer |
Variety Type Seeds Per Package:
- 250 mg Packet - Approximately 15 Seeds
- 0.25 oz - Wholesale - Approximately 500 Seeds
- 1 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 2,000 Seeds
- 4 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 8,000 Seeds
Non-GMO Variety Type seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.
=======Basic Info
| Latin Name: | Silybum marianum |
| Milk Thistle Color: | Spiny green leaves with white veining, purple flowers |
| Milk Thistle Flavor: | Mild, nutty seeds; leaves slightly bitter |
Growing Info
| Hardiness Zone: | Annual or Biennial in zones 6-10 |
| Days to Maturity: | 80-100 |
| Days to Germination: | 10-20 |
| Seeding Depth: | 0.25 inches |
| Plant Spacing: | 24-36 inches |
| Row Spacing: | 30-36 inches |
| Plant Height: | 36-60 inches |
| Growth Habit: | Upright, thistle-like rosette to branching stems |
| Soil Preference: | Well-drained loam, tolerates poor soils |
| Temperature Preference: | Warm, 65-85 F |
| Light Preference: | Full Sun |
Other
| Direct Sow: | Yes |
| Start Indoors: | Yes, 4-6 weeks before transplanting. |
| Plant Width: | 24-48 inches |
| Deer Resistant: | Yes |
| Germination Temperature: | 65-75 F |
| Pests and Diseases: | Generally resistant, but can be susceptible to aphids |
| Climate Tolerance: | Heat and drought tolerant |