Cobwebby Thistle (Cirsium occidentale)

Family: Asteraceae or Compositae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Cirsium occidentale is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies), beetles. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Shoots, Roots/Tubers

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

pleasant taste after prolonged boiling. — A pleasant taste after prolonged boiling.; The root is likely to be rich in inulin, a starch that cannot be digested by humans.; This starch thus passes straight through the digestive system and, in some people, ferments to produce flatulence.; Stem - peeled and eaten raw.

Habitat & North American Range

Sandy places by the coast and into the nearby hills. (Zone 8)