Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Milk Thistle

Silybum marianum

Typically in season from April to June in the northern hemisphere. Found in disturbed, grassland.

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

Photo: Robert Martin · CC BY

When Milk Thistle is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak April to June. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in July

Where it grows

Milk Thistle is usually found in disturbed, grassland.

Take Milk Thistle into the field

Open Milk Thistle in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Milk Thistle: common questions

When is Milk Thistle in season?

Milk Thistle is generally in season from April to June in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Milk Thistle grow?

Milk Thistle is usually found in disturbed, grassland.

Is Milk Thistle safe to forage?

Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits