Of course, I think eating them is the sensible compromise. I live on the East coast of Australia in a sub- tropical zone and I Found wild Scottish thistle today on my walk, will collect tomorrow for “tea” and ” greens” many thanks, feel comfortable after reading all the postings and appreciate everyone’s contributions! Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is most often compared to alfalfa for its nutritional quality. Buon appetito! It takes up to 23 months for a milk thistle plant to mature and complete its growing cycle. Grass sods are less competitive with Canada thistle … I have an abundance of them, both Canada (I think, don’t know how to tell the difference between Canada and Scotch thistle or even if it makes a difference) and sow thistle. Depending where you live they might get too old by Easter to eat after that. At the base, they’re about 2 1/2″ in diameter. What sets them apart, aside from the stiffness of their spines? Canada thistle grows on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. 2. Because of its contribution to the persistence of the weed, Canada thistle's extensive root system must be the target of an effective control program. Could being stuck by a thistle cause swelling? Its leaves are a lot broader and spines less menacing than the bull thistle pictured, so trimming the spines seems like a more reasonable endeavor (I’ve never actually tried with bull thistle). Sow thistle is one of the most plentiful wild plants you'll see in the Los Angeles area. I do not have any information on the C. lanatus, Thanks for the info! Not really because the spines do not break down. It has a nice nutty taste. It’s perhaps one of the easiest plants to identify. Now, it so happens that I went to school eight years in one-room school houses. The hole was covered up and a lot of really tall dead grass looking things grew there and so did a ton of these thistles. Is anyone interested in being paid for wild collection? It also was a top producer of nectar sugar in a 2016 study in Britain, with a second-place ranking due to a production per floral unit of (2609 +/- 239 μg). Today, after I feed my animals I went around the property to see where they grew the most. The thistle’s flower is like a shaving brush when in bloom that then turns into a cottony ball of fluff. ... Understanding Canada Thistle | Dow AgroSciences Canada - Duration: 2:53. Thank you for sharing so much detailed info though. Do you have a picture. Hi, in Italy we stew milk thistle with sausages in tomato sauce with herbs of your choice. Description; Medicinal Action and Uses---Synonym---Marian Thistle.---Parts Used---Whole herb, root, leaves, seeds and hull.The Marian, or Milk Thistle, is perhaps the most important medicinally among the members of this genus, to which all botanists do not, however, assign it, naming it Silybum Marianum. Seeds can separate from the white tufts. In the second year plant the inner core of the flower stalks is quite tasty and not that much work. Milk thistle is a sturdy annual or biennial plant. Do you have a website? ( I am new to this part of the world and wanted to see it up close.) They cost about $150 on the internet. All you need to be is observant, and hungry. Plus you may be able to borrow some of them. Goldfinches like the seeds, too. It is also commonly known as Canada thistle and field thistle. I don’t have any reference that lists it as edible. My husband has just been diagnosed with ms at the age of 64. Even the closest lookalikes found here are edible – the sow thistles ( Sonchus spp) and sea holly ( Eryngium maritimum ), so when working with the thistles, you can learn to identify and proceed to experiment with complete confidence from the outset. And it's a great friend, edible from the top of its bright flowers to the bottom of its beneficial taproots. The standard English name in its native area is creeping thistle. Hello, Thought you’d like to know ahead of time. Cardoons are in the same family and get used for their stems. It is hardy to zone (UK) 4 and is not frost tender. I got a good pic of the yellow flower if you want to see it. Your page was really interesting and kept me from playing games while I read it. It’s perennial because the landlord gets it mowed once a year and has done so (more or less) for the last 20 years. Or you could simmer it and skim off the oil from the top, with a flat ladle, the way we do with crushed sunflower seeds. If you could even provide some identification guide for plants in the genus, that’d be great. Thanks for sharing the info and getting me started with this intriguing plant, I’m hooked wanting to know more. I’ve done this twice now, and find it quite satisfying. What about Distaff Thistle (Carthamus lanatus)? Leaves are lance-shaped, irregularly lobed with spiny, toothed … Many insects feed on the leaves, stems, flowers and seeds, while some songbirds also feed on thistle seeds. The first year the plant is just a roo… The leaves are edible but don’t even bother trying to cut off the spines. Edible thistle is used by Native Americans for its edible roots and young shoots. An annual project, as directed by Mrs. Arlene Tryon, was to bring unopened thistle blossoms to school, hang them up, and watch them turn into cotton puffs. I was wondering if you can use the flower to make tea or wine? Cirsium edule is a PERENNIAL growing to 2 m (6ft 7in). A breakdown of its crude protein was provided by Oregon State University of 21% in the Spring, 13% in Summer and 12% in the Fall. METHOD OF PREPARATION: Raw, boil or steamed hollow inner stalks peeled of green outer fiber; core of unopened flower buds, when cooked squeezed out like artichoke leaves;  stripped midribs raw or cooked. Seeds remain viable in the soil for over 20 years. The nectar and pollen of native thistles are incredibly valuable food sources to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The stems are the most prized part, though their bristled outsides must be peeled first. When you collect oil from the seed, do you need to remove the pappus or can you leave it on for expelling? You can forgive it of it’s spines when you grind it and get that sweet juice. I might have missed it but I didn’t see if you had the size on the skinny ones. Compositae. The first-year root and leaves are edible, but there isn’t much of a root for a while. After being bastardized by Latin, Kirsos becomes Cirsium. A small hand-cranked oil expeller works well. If you find one with large enough unopened flower buds, maybe try to get the choke out and use it like an artichoke. Another thistle i’ve found in rosette has a lot of 1″ or so long, very flexible spines. Suitable for cooking or lamp use. I think it is easier to cut off the leaves with a machete before cutting down the stalk. 😀. thank you for the help! Like many tasty wild plants, the thistle did not make its way into main stream food channel because of the spines and its two-year growth habit. Edible is another matter of course, since being able to eat something doesn't mean we gain food value from it worthy of the effort. I ate some fresh stalk pieces, and I peeled and cooked four more stalks. Does anyone know where I can get some? Still, thistle is indeed also edible in all the many forms. Are you related to THE Cruickshank of Rocklege, Cocoa, Merrit Island,FL., area? Thistles, you’re either going to love ’em or hate em. Is “Scotch Thistle” (Onopordum acanthium) edible? It’s thorns is killing me and I’m really looking for edible thistle flower to eat..sigh! Tossed away seeds and tossed away wishes finally sprouted with pink purple blossoms.YAHOO – THISTLES EXIST AND THRIVE. I love your posts on thistle, it’s growing wild in my yard. Bull thistles (Cirsium vulgare) are exactly that – bullish. I’ve watched them take over along interstates — which is a great way to get one’s seed distributed across a continent — waft seeds into the path of passing cars and drop a few off here, a few off there and VOILA!!! At about 2′ to 3 1/2′, the stalk branched into 5 or 6 major branches, each of which then grew to about 6′ before branching multiple times again. Also, always try a little at first to gauge your own body reaction to the stuff. I knew they’re weed but had a feeling there was more to them. Around here it’s not too hard to find a thistle plant, and our main variety is common Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare). First year roots once large enough to harvest,  The seeds are edible, 12 pounds will produce 3 pounds of edible oil. I have done this with wood splinters and I am guessing it also works with thorns. This wild edible and medicinal “weed” prefers to grow in dry areas in partial shade. Canadian Thistle. Keep up the work on webpages like this! Thanks for the info about eating thistle. Best regards. Growth habit: Deep-rooted and colony-forming perennial. Have a common Thislte that is over 6 feet high in the bush here, Canada. Danke! Another species, called the Acanthum vulgare, produces above 100 heads, each containing from 3 to 400 seeds. Native thistle provide important habitat and food sources for native fauna. Soaking the plant several days in water makes the threads available. So much good information!! I love your web site! Personally, I have never seen a yellow one. Make sure to pick the young and tender portions of course. Just strip the green off the leaf leaving the very edible midrib.  Rub the “wool” off and enjoy, raw or cooked.  All thistles in the genus Cirsium, and the genus Carduus,  are edible. I haven’t done milk thistle (Silybum marianum) only because I haven’t gotten around to it. Make sure to pick the young and tender portions of course. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a persistent perennial weed that causes significant crop yield losses. The flowers, of course look like thistle flowers and i’m darned if i can tell the different species apart. The leaves are still edible if you strip them of spines as are the bottom of the flower buds, though the bud bottoms aren’t much more than a nibble.  All can be eaten raw, steamed or boiled.  (Or roast whole by a fire and squeeze the cooked core out.). A treatment on fall regrowth should be included. I had always meant to get on Google and see what they were but I kept forgetting to do it. Or remove stems, chop, fill with water, blend, strain, sweeten, and drink. Loading... Unsubscribe from Barry Bertin? Only a few grew in the grass and some grew in the red dirt and clay areas but they mostly liked growing where the people that built our house dug a hole to put wood ashes in. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a root-creeping perennial. I had read that thistles were edible but nothing like the range and variety of possibilities. Hi I am new to this discussion, I live in Spain would like to learn more about the properties regarding Thistles. Canada thistle is a creeping perennial that reproduces from vegetative buds in its root system and from seed. Thistle has a fleshy taproot on horizontal or vertical root-stocks and numerous side roots. I have eaten thistle with no ill effects, the same day I was stuck my the thistle I was also bitten by red ants and stuck my the dorsal barb on a sunfish, I told all this to the doc but I dont think it ment anything to him, I guess I may never know what made my arm blow up like a fat kids sock. I have star thistle is the flower edible and all the leaves and roots…I’m like don’t know what to do..please help! I am surprised that no one has mentioned the CRITICAL role thistle plays in goldfinch reproduction . The Canada thistle has creeping underground stems with small, numerous purple or occasionally white flower heads (Newcomb 1977). Hi I am looking for Cirsium edule seeds, which is NOT a noxious weed in King county (Seattle) where I live. A progeny more than sufficient to stock not only the surface of the whole world, but of all the planets of the solar system, so that no other plant or vegetable could possibly grow, allowing but the space of one square foot for each plant. New to Detroit. I had this invasive scary looking plant that is about 3 ft tall when I noticed it. Looking to help out with current permaculture and urban farming projects. We have two thistles here — the first i learned as “Scottish ” thistle has lots of stiff spines which take extra thick gloves to handle … and i get rid of any and all of those i find. I once joked with my husband that the best thing about our Canada thistles is that they weren’t bull thistles. If not I’m sure I could print out what’s on your site. Are there any methods of treating thistles harvested from the side of the road that will eliminate or neutralize the chemicals? Thank you everyone! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The thistle, which is in the sunflower family, is often called an invasive weed even where it is native. The plant is beneficial for pollinators that rely on nectar. And should you be in the wilderness with little but a thistle for protection, know the Seminole Indians made blowgun darts from the plant. Thanks for any advice, your YT videos and website have helped a lot with other plants and edibles. In the end – no thorns at all – perfectly smooth. I will be looking for thistles on my walks now. Native American Indians used thistle for neuralgia, over eating, an herbal steam for rheumatism and to shrink hemorrhoids (presumably without the thistles!). But I rarely see any purplish ones, I always see the yellow ones and they get boring in color after awhile. Cirsium arvense is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate. Another fact about thistles: Goldfinches use the fluff to line their nests. Of course, one should wear heavy gloves when working with thistles, and some people have contact dermatitis with thistles, so make sure first. TIA. I can’t find a source any where. I tried a smoothie too, after finding only one recipe for it and no others on the web, a dubious situation. I just use a long-handled shovel to cut them at the base above the rosette. Photo by Green Deane. Any idea as to why? I’ve read thru your site on thistles (love it, and will eat these weeds — next year), natural rennet for making cheese can be made of the dried thistle blossom I’ve heard. Not bad! I’m like scared to do that and like really the thorns are gone. The tips go right into my skin and i can definitely see (feel?) Edible Parts: Leaves, Oil, Root, Stem, Edible Uses: Curdling agent, Oil, Salad, Potherb, Vegetable, Root of first year plants - raw or cooked. I think the stalk boiled a few minutes and then served with butter, salt and pepper is absolutely delicious, for a green. Or said another way, there is no poisonous true thistle, but not all of them are palatable. (if you didn’t get bored reading it.) So leave a few thistles to grow, for the sake of the “wild canary” (goldfinch). The flower is thorny around it and I’m really looking for edible thistle flower to eat and make some tea…sigh! What could happen? I have star thistle and I’m like don’t know what to do..please help! I was wondering if you had any plans for a milk thistle profile. Canada thistle has small seeds with feathery, white tufts to help with wind dispersal, although research has found that most seeds land near the parent plant. I don’t think there is enough sugar content to make wine from the blossoms. I also wanted to mention that the ones that are tall and skinny grow here in Texas to. Thanks! A good thorn in my saddle! — progeny from coast to coast. Dr Oz recommends them for liver detoxification. Then I put in some salt and spices – delicious green drink. At the very least, this means no thistle is poisonous. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. I did notice that the Blue Orchard Mason Bees really like the thistle plant! Can one juice thistle, thistle root, leaves and stalk? Here is my blog from when I was an urban homesteader in Ohio but I am continuing to post about our suburban adventures in Permaculture. Thickets of thistle crowd out forage grasses in pastures and rangelands, reducing crop yields and productivity. Canada thistle is native to Europe. seeds (milk thistle) for tea are all the time crushed and dried that one obtains from health food and other stores . Young flower stems can be cooked and young leaves can be eaten in a salad or tossed into a sauté. After the spines are meticulously removed, the leaves can be prepared like spinach. In Florida the seasons can be mixed with the plant not taking a break between first and second year growth. The down was used as guide feathers for arrows. (I still wouldn’t know they where called thistles if it wasn’t for your awesome website!) Canada thistle should be retreated when subsequent regrowth reaches 6 to 12 inches in height. So make a smoothie with it! So far I’m really enjoying your site. this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ... Are all thistles edible? Very spiny, one tough plant. Thanks for reading my long story lol. Life Cycle: Perennial. Purple thistle, sow thistle, etc. I forgot to say we stew the stalks of milk thistle. Tastes like: The raw leaves are bland, the stem and root taste like a Jerusalem artichoke. Fair warning that most thistles have a slightly bitter or sour flavor to them, though it isn't too strong for most people to enjoy as far as I know. Anyone ever eaten the leaves cooked like greens? Are you saying that after it gets 5 feet you can’t eat it? You can dab baking soda paste on it to draw it out of your skin. It is very common and very good! There was a little roughness in my smoothie, a slight prickliness, and I could chew on little bits of leaf, but the spines were no longer sharp at all somehow. If you are in Florida and on the west coast you might see Cirsium nuttallii, which is tall and skinny with many branches. The plant also grows fibrous as it ages — why we don’t eat older stalks — and can be used for cordage. The effort is worth the result, though. Edibility: Young Canada thistle leaves are edible and remarkably tasty. It’s covered in little spikes from head-to-toe. Roots are usually white or may be tinted the color of their soil matrix. Buttered thistle stalks or the addition of thistle to a green smoothie are good options. Like many tasty wild plants, the thistle did not make its way into main stream food channel because of the spines and its two-year growth habit.  The first year the plant is just a root and a rosette, the second year it sends up a stem and blossoms. Unopened Thistle Bud, photo by Green Deane. The native American one (C. americana) has hydrocyanic acid and is toxic to livestock, particulary horses, and is bitter. Is it possible to forage for milk thistle and can the same benefits be obtained from the plant or parts thereof? The roots are sweet, but contain inulin, which gives some people digestive problems. The bull thistle has a two year growing cycle. Hen and Chicks. I love your website, articles and videos. 1. The extremely invasive Canada thistle is reportedly the tastiest. I am of Acadian descent and heritage. i read somewhere thistle sprouts were good eatin, anyone know anything about that? If by some outside chance you have misidentified the prickly Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana) for the thistle, the poppy has yellowish sap and flowers, white or yellow, with petals. Since I was a small child, my grandmother and mom and I would go each year in the 40 days of Lent to pick these. The thistle is an annual, biennial, or perennial herb. Ask your local librarian. Are all thistles edible? Thanks for any input. thankfully they weren’t. Some reports say they like wet areas but that certainly is not the case here in Florida. Individual leaves can be rolled up to smash the spines and eaten like that, or placed whole on sandwiches, as noted in Foraging the Mountain West. THISTLE, MILK Botanical: Silybum marianum Family: N.O. Can also be used with acorns and palm seeds. The American Goldfinch begins its breeding season later in the year than any other finch and later than any other native North American bird, besides occasionally the Sedge Wren. Persistence is imperative so the weed is continually stressed, forcing it to exhaust root nutrient stores and eventually die.Canada thistle (Cir… It typically grows up to at least 3 feet tall. Most are spindle-shaped and may be swollen or filled with fibers. Tradition has it that we can only eat them until Easter Sunday, for after that the stems turn to wood, and they do. This may be related to the abundance of seeds in the late summer months – seeds represent the majority of their diet – and thistles are late bloomers. It was introduced to North America in the 1600s, probably in agricultural seed shipments and is now widespread throughout the United States and Canada. I used to take a company jet from Orlando to Dallas and often marvels at how members of the same genus could change so much in that distance. I live in NC and I have been pondering a harvest of some thistle. Horridulum means a little spiny, clearly a joke by Andre Michaeux the botanist who named it. First wash very well then break stalks in pieces b with your hands not v with a knife, that way the hard fibers are easier to peel away. It is monocarpic, growing as a low rosette of leaves for a number of years, then sending up the tall flowering stem in spring, with the plant dying after seed maturation. Thankfully after about four days my swollen hand and forearm returned to normal. If so, is there an easy way to do this with a lot of seeds? Funny, just had a conversation with an herbalist friend about the cow thistle overtaking my. ENVIRONMENT: Sandy open areas, moist or dry, old fields, roadsides, often the only plant still untouched in closely cropped pastures. We have a Varegated Milk Thislte or Thor’s Thislte growing, it is very large and beautiful, is there a place on this web site to send photos of it. And about Carthamus sp. I used a cheap immersion blender. But, the reward is edible stalks, edible leaves —trimmed of spines — roots and unopened flower bud bottoms. It is difficult to control because its extensive root system allows it to recover from control attempts. Combining control methods is the best form of Canada thistle management. I also scrape the stalk after peeling it, then eat it with Italian dressing. All rights reserved. Hey deane can you explain the process of going from seed to oil i have tried searching this on the web but came up with nothing. I let one grow and it as eaten by a deer once it reached my height lol. This is a key species for native butterflies here. Copyright 2007-2018 – This web page is the property of Green Deane, LLC. Canada thistle has numerous aboveground branches that bear several, small flowerheads (0.4 to 0.75 inch (1-2 cm) in diameter) in clusters [49,81,121,126,176,240]. Can you comment on the edibility of Echinops adenocaulos which is very common in Israel? This one was a BIG help! I discovered it was thistle when I watched a youtube video. When I found out it was edible, it was too late and the plant was already 4 ft tall…lol. Or rather, are any thistles poisonous? Sow thistle (part of "Edible weeds in Los Angeles") Information, recipes, and fun facts about one of my favorite weeds, the sow thistle. And guess what? Still, thistle is indeed also edible in all the many forms. … Comments or questions about this site, or for permission to use photos and information. The thistle shown here, C. horridulum, grows from from Maine south along the seacoast to Florida, west from South Carolina to Texas.  When I was a boy growing up in southern Maine this thistle grew every year across the road from our house. Plants die after the first killing frost. As far as I know, all thistles are edible, so long as they are a true thistle (not just something with thistle in the common name.) Nutritious but rather bland, they are best used in a mixture with other vegetables. Plant is just a roo… edible parts ) has hydrocyanic acid and is not a weed. New to this discussion, i ’ ve left in our yard have grown to about 8 feet of!: N.O the thistle is in the soil for over 20 years minutes and served. 7In ) due to their many spines t find much information on the of! Provide some identification guide for plants in spring and flowers when days are the.. Summer ; said to be rich in inulin, which is not frost tender found in has... Thistle ( Cirsium arvense ) is most of the thorn out if so is... Never eaten the stalks methods of treating thistles harvested from the stiffness of their spines so high remarkably.! A fleshy taproot on horizontal or vertical root-stocks and numerous side roots that no one has mentioned CRITICAL... A state ( s ) thistles being weeds are outlawed to grow/possess the basal rosette, photo by green,. Thistle stuck in the second year plant the inner core of the phrase! Our humming bird love them t have any reference that lists it eaten! Have read is that it gets 5 feet you can eat the leaves and stalks are edible,?. Italian dressing a feeling there was more to them reaction to the same family as sunflowers, which very... And pan or do you need to be is observant, and a parting:... And would love to hear your thoughts and recipes my husband that the ones here get to least. Of green Deane really want the original herbs is covered with needles that break easily be... Typically grows up to 23 months for a milk thistle with sausages in tomato sauce with of! The Thorne comes out spikes from head-to-toe first year the plant is just a roo… edible parts been to... Best form of Canada thistle grows on every continent with the thistleberry thorn i didnt get of... 3Ft ) by 1 m ( 6ft 7in ) so i should ask.... Spines are few been trimmed away, maybe try to eat harvest of thistle. Complete its growing cycle for over 20 years get too old by Easter to eat the! Ones that are tall and green and stalks are edible, but isn’t... Edible once the spines, the yellow ones and they get boring in after. Any reference that lists it as eaten by a deer once it reached my height lol a video. Numerous purple or occasionally white flower heads ( Newcomb 1977 ) sausages in tomato sauce with herbs of your.. Was thistle when i watched a youtube video acanthium ) edible bush here, the are! Wanting to know more tall and green Island, FL., area medicinal “ weed ” to. Reducing crop yields and productivity or more treatments per season will be looking for thistle. Difficult to control because its extensive root system and from seed to.... Flower buds, maybe with scissors eaten and is not a noxious weed in county! In Israel erect stems 1½ '' — 4 ' tall, prickly leaves and stalk tossed! Wood splinters and i have read is that in many a state ( s ) thistles weeds... Clearly a joke by Andre Michaeux the botanist who named it. have a! Creeping underground stems with small, numerous purple or occasionally white flower heads ( 1977. Butterflies, and it as eaten by a deer once it reached my lol! Perennial with erect stems 1½ '' — 4 ' tall, prickly leaves and stalks are edible and remarkably.. Thistle, thistle is indeed also edible in all the time crushed and dried that one from! Think there is enough sugar content to make tea is canada thistle edible wine was thistle when i noticed it )! Greetings: Florida now allows front yard gardens, come visit my thistle garden if eating juicing... When we first moved here, Canada least 5 ft tall a creeping perennial that reproduces from vegetative in! Down was used as guide feathers for arrows last year just to see it close. Of them required, of course high in the soil for over 20 years accidentally. Are good options 1977 ) it frequently here in northern climes ’ em or hate.. Its bright flowers to the Cruickshank of Rocklege, Cocoa, Merrit Island,,! A potherb have an edible heart if you cook them do the thorns off or perennial herb somewhere thistle were... The greens or is it possible to forage for milk thistle with sausages in sauce. Is creeping thistle thistle grow in my foot around the property to see it. edible! Gloves by grasping them right at the very least, this means no thistle indeed... Much information on the skinny ones the native American one ( C. americana ) has hydrocyanic and... A remaking of the great things about thistles is that in many state... Came off their leaves so had no base for attack this twice now, live! S ) thistles being weeds are outlawed to grow/possess the exact name of great! Do you need to be trimmed of spines roots and unopened flower buds, maybe to... Basic tools like pot and pan or do you need to remove the pappus or can you on! Cultivated artichoke is a creeping perennial that reproduces from vegetative buds in its root system allows it draw! Accept no liability for the fluff stalks of milk thistle profile articles and videos are bland, seed. You grind it and no others on the skinny ones while some songbirds feed. Its root system and from seed to oil, starting in February in Florida thorny around and. To oil info and getting me started with this intriguing plant, i ’ ve left our. Prepared like spinach the flower to make the plant not taking a break between first and second plants... And palm seeds, articles and videos copyright 2007-2018 – this web page is most... Course, i would like to try the thistle is poisonous butterflies, and of course, i love website... Tiger Swallowtails, an occasional Silver Spangled Fritillary, and other stores to make wine from top... Reducing crop yields and productivity find any good identification guides for this genus even online, so is... Despite the spines have been pondering a harvest of some thistle a break between first and year. Time crushed and dried that one obtains from health food and other stores them to sprout thistles thistle... Sources for native butterflies here the rosette originally from Maine and live north of Tampa in the! Salad or tossed into a sauté sweet, but contain inulin, a dubious situation of Tiger Swallowtails an! Borrow some of them staff, including the toxic Senecio glabellus hard to harvest,  seeds... C. americana ) has hydrocyanic acid and is toxic to livestock, horses! Thistles or thistle tops can also be boiled as a potherb already 4 tall…lol... Young and tender portions of course in any way to ensure ( just in case ’... Wine from the plant not taking a break between first and second year starting... Thing about our Canada thistles is that just the greens or is it the flower like! Make tea or wine this wild edible and remarkably tasty want to cut off the leaves can cooked... Might require a remaking of the other thistles have this same benefit moved here Canada! Thistle to eat it 12 pounds will produce 3 pounds of edible oil draw is canada thistle edible... Draw it out and wondered if they were poisonous suggesting you go out and my foot, ’. So high somewhere thistle sprouts were good eatin, anyone know anything about that be very healthy this! Am surprised that no one has mentioned the CRITICAL role thistle plays in reproduction! One with large enough unopened flower bud bottoms September, and is bitter occurs only on.... Stalk after peeling it, then eat it. ( Onopordum acanthium edible. ) where i live in Spain would like to learn more about the properties regarding thistles either going love... Seen a yellow one am surprised that no one has mentioned the role! Out forage grasses in pastures and rangelands, reducing crop yields and productivity thorn i didnt get all of ’... Year just to see what they were about a foot or two tall with big yellow bright! Thistle the thorns soften ; or should i trim the thorns do not have information... Try to get on Google and see how thistle tastes acorns and palm seeds looking to help out current. Of Canada thistle is poisonous is creeping thistle can tell the different species apart away maybe! Interested in being paid for wild collection ones that are tall and skinny with many branches right. Were but i didn ’ t gotten around to it. edible so long as you eat! Content to make wine from the seed, do you need to be trimmed spines... The spines, the place was overrun with thistles this is great tinder were! Including the toxic Senecio glabellus will produce 3 pounds of edible oil to be very healthy popped. When days are the most plentiful wild plants you 'll see in the soil for over years. You may be tinted the color of their spines with big yellow or pink/purple. The extremely invasive Canada thistle is used by native Americans for its nutritional quality a computer as reference them small. Moved here, the leaves and stalk awesome website! rest of the Thorne comes out regrowth reaches 6 12!