Galactites, Purple milk thistle
Galactites tomentosus

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

An annual daisy family thistle plant. It forms mounded bushes. It grows 100 cm tall and spreads 100 cm wide. The leaves near the base are 20 cm long. They have deep lobes and spines at the tips. The leaves are white and woolly underneath. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. The flowers are in mauve-purple heads. These are 15-20 mm across. They can occur singly or in branched clusters. The outer florets are larger than the inner and are spreading. The flower bracts narrow suddenly into a spine.

There are 3 Galactites species.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate to subtropical plant. They suit sunny coastal areas. They need well drained soil. It grows naturally on stony and sandy soils. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Mediterranean, Portugal, Sicily, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

It is eaten when young, cooked with salt and oil. It is used in pizzas and soups. The tender flower stems are eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, stem, flower stalks

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed and transplanted.

They grow quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Cardo, Cardu, Gardu mele, Scarlina

Synonyms

Calcitrapa galactites Lam.; and several others