Milk thistle

Silybum marianum

Layer 4 · Herbaceous
Dynamic accumulator

Status by region

No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.

Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).

Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.

About

Native to the Mediterranean basin, it is a robust plant with large, deeply cut leaves and purple, spiky inflorescences. Its deep roots help to accumulate nutrients and loosen the soil. It forms part of the herbaceous layer as a nutrient accumulator and relevant medicinal source.

It can be planted now — September is one of the best months.

See which trees milk thistle grows well with

These trees share this species' soil and climate — the pairing is inferred from conditions, not from a guild we have already seen.

No account needed.

Needs

Water: Low
Light: Full sun
Size: Annual or biennial herb up to 1.5 m
Mature diameter: 0.6 m
Soils: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Limestone
Climates: Atlantic coast, Inland / Continental, Hot, dry Mediterranean

Calendar

January
February
March — Planting
April — Planting
May
June — Harvest
July — Harvest
August — Harvest
September — Planting
October — Planting
November
December

Harvest
Planting

Medicinal use: The seeds are used in the preparation of extracts and teas that protect the liver and stimulate digestion.

Where to buy

Central trees worth considering

May work well together — same soil and climate, complementary layers. We have not seen this combination in a generated guild yet.

May grow well with

Suggestions worked out from growing conditions — same soil and climate, complementary layers and functions. These are not observed guilds; treat them as a starting point to try on your own land.