Species library · Plants & herbs
Silybum marianum
Typically in season from March to June in the northern hemisphere. Found in Disturbed ground, Grassland, Scrub & hedgerows. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.
Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by Jesse Rorabaugh · iNaturalist
Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak March to June. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.
Milk Thistle is usually found in Disturbed ground, Grassland, Scrub & hedgerows.
Similar species: cotton thistle, spear thistle, musk thistle. Only forage with a confident ID.
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.
Milk Thistle is generally in season from March 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.
Milk Thistle is usually found in Disturbed ground, Grassland, Scrub & hedgerows.
Similar species: cotton thistle, spear thistle, musk thistle. Only forage with a confident ID. 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.
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
