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Milk Thistle

Lactuca serriola

Last reviewed: June 2026

Milk Thistle (Lactuca serriola)
Photo: Johann Gottlieb Mann, digitized by Loyola University New Orleans / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Light

part sun

Water

low

Size

24"–72" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

ND, NV, UT, WV

Pollinators

bees, flies, beetles

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast RangeSierra NevadaCentral California ValleyCentral California Foothills and Coastal MountainsSouthern California MountainsCentral Basin and RangeMojave Basin and RangeChihuahuan DesertsCentral Oklahoma/Texas PlainsEdwards PlateauEast Central Texas PlainsSonoran Basin and Range

Milk thistle is a tall annual wildflower that produces small yellow dandelion-like flowers from summer through fall. This native plant can reach up to 6 feet tall and has deeply lobed leaves with prickly edges. It readily self-seeds and spreads naturally in disturbed soils.

In an HOA neighborhood

Milk Thistle takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Looks distinctly weedy and unkempt
  • Can grow very tall and appear uncontrolled
  • Prickly leaves may be seen as undesirable
  • Self-seeds aggressively

Wildlife value

The flowers attract various pollinators including bees, flies, and beetles throughout the long blooming season. Seeds provide food for birds, particularly goldfinches and other seed-eating species.

Common questions

How much sun does Milk Thistle need?
Milk Thistle grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Milk Thistle bloom?
Milk Thistle blooms in June, July, August, and September.
Where is Milk Thistle native?
Milk Thistle (Lactuca serriola) is native to ND, NV, UT, WV, per the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists.
What pollinators does Milk Thistle attract?
Milk Thistle draws bees, flies, and beetles.
Is Milk Thistle HOA-friendly?
Milk Thistle takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Ready to grow Milk Thistle? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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