Blessed Thistle is a unique, distinctive looking plant that is thistle-like. Blessed Thistle is also called Holy Thistle, St. Benedict's Thistle and Spotted Thistle. It blooms with yellow flowers that are striking, these flowers are surrounded by sharp, spiky gray-green leaves. It stands on red, thick fleshy stems. It is originally from the Mediterranean region from the following countries: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Herzegovina, Italy, Croatia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey. Blessed Thistle is also known as: Holy Thistle, Spotted Thistle, St. Benedict's Thistle, Cardin, Carbenia Benedicta, Cardo Bendito, Cardo Santo and Carduus. Blessed Thistle comes from the Asteraceae family, just like: Yarrow, Yellow Chamomile, German Chamomile, Roman Chamomile, Common Burdock, Greater Burdock, Aster, Daisy, Marigold, Cornflower, Globe Thistle, Yellow Chrysanthemum, Sunflower, Daisy, Lettuce, Chicory, Road Thistle, Marigold and Dandelion.
Blessed Thistle is also used medicinally for digestive problems, it also works as an appetite stimulant. It is also a well-known antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. It also works as a strengthening agent for the nerves. Blessed Thistle can also help heal wounds. Please note: excessive use of Blessed Thistle can cause stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting in people who are sensitive to it. Blessed Thistle has a bitter taste. This plant is used for making tea, tinctures and tonics. Blessed Thistle is often confused with Milk Thistle. Milk Thistle is a completely different plant. The flowers of Milk Thistle are purple-red and not yellow like the flowers of Blessed Thistle. Place this plant in a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil. In the past in the Middle Ages, this plant could be found in monastery gardens, among other things. In nature, Blessed Thistle grows on stony grounds and in fields. Blessed Thistle is very attractive to bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other useful insects. Blessed Thistle flowers from April till July. Non hardy annual. Height: 30 - 60 cm.
Outdoor sowing: March - June
Germination: 7 - 21 days
Germination temp.: 18 - 20 °C
Sowing depth: shallow - ½ cm
Planting distance: 30 - 40 cm
Plant position: full sun - sheltered
Flowering period: April - July
Harvesting period: June - July
Sow outdoors from March till June. Sow in a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil. Sow superficially and don't cover the seeds, but press them down gently. Blessed Thistle is a light germinator. Depending on the temperature, the weather, the amount of light, it can take 7 till 21 days for the seeds to germinate. Once the seeds have germinated and the seedlings are large enough to handle, they can be thinned out to 30 - 40 cm. Keep moist and weed-free.
All parts of Blessed Thistle are edible. The young leaves can be added raw to salads. It can also be cooked like a kind of spinach. The root can also be cooked. The unopened flower buds of Blessed Thistle can be eaten like a kind of artichoke, but these flower buds are a lot smaller than artichokes. The taste is very bitter and not everyone likes that. It is also possible to sow Blessed Thistle as a biennial. For this you can sow from June till August. Otherwise the same as described above. These plants only flower in the year after sowing. The seeds of Blessed Thistle can be harvested from May. Blessed Thistle flowers from April till July. Blessed Thistle can be harvested from June.
