Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.
Family :Asteraceae
Longevity : Perennial
Origin :Introduced
Season :Cool
Blessed Milk Thistle is a large thistle reaching a height of three to six feet. The white-mottled leaves are up to 2 1/2 feet long and 11 inches wide with wavy to lobed margins and yellow spines. The large purple flower head is made up of only disc flowers and measures up to two inches thick. Blessed Milk Thistle originates from the Mediterranean area. Once considered rare and localized in the Edwards Plateau area, few plants have been found in the South Texas Plains and other regions of Texas. The Blessed Milk Thistle blooms late in the spring and during the summer.
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