Wholesale Organic Milk thistle
Silybum marianum
plant overview
the holy thistle
Milk thistle is a Mediterranean plant in the daisy family that is
characterized by tufts of purple flower heads surrounded by a halo of
protective thorns. Because the plant is associated with the Virgin Mary, who
is reputed to have wept over the plant, it is also called Holy Thistle,
Blessed Thistle, Mary Thistle and Lady’s Thistle. The plant is harvested for
its seed, which contains a significant amount of amino acids, protein and,
most notably, a group of chemical compounds referred to as silymarin. Milk
thistle seed can be added to salads and other foods, but is most commonly
used to produce teas, infusions, tinctures and extracts.
Clicking "learn more" next to each variety will take you to individual
product pages for details.