Purple milk thistle, Galactites tomentosa, is an attractive annual thistle, bearing hairy, silver-green foliage with strong white veining on the leaves, contrasting with purple, thistle-like blooms from late-spring to midsummer.
Galactites tomentosa ‘Alba’ has variegated leaves, again with strong white veining, from which white flowers with a green eye appear in summer. It self-seeds readily but fertile seeds are uncommon - seeds must be collected and sown to propagate new plants for the following season.
Grow Galactites tomentosa ‘Alba’ in well-drained soil in full sun.
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Galactites ‘Alba’ and wildlife
Galactites ‘Alba’ is known for attracting bees, butterflies/moths and other pollinators.
