Many thistles can be used in the kitchen as parts of the plant are edible. Some of the native species are even considered medicinal plants. Some parts of the plant are even poisonous, such as the root of the silver thistle.
The thistles are prickly, there is no danger that they will be eaten
Since garden thistles are usually quite prickly, you don't need to worry too much about accidentally eating parts of the plant. Enjoy the decorative flowers instead. These are often blue, a color that is not very common in flowering perennials and is therefore particularly attractive. Only remove your thistles if you don't like these types of plants.
The essentials in brief:
- Toxicity depends on the species of thistle
- some varieties can be used as a medicinal plant or for consumption
- accidental consumption thanks to spines almost impossible
tips
Unless you know exactly what species your thistle is, it's not recommended to eat it, even though they're rarely poisonous.