Tag: Edible thistles

According to the U.S. Forest Service, North America is home to over 200 species of thistles, a relative of the cultivated artichoke. This common roadside weed is a surprisingly versatile food source for the careful forager, but are thistles good to eat?

Scotch thistle (*Onopordum acanthium*), despite its famously prickly appearance, has been used in European traditional medicine and cuisine for centuries. This historical use leads many aspiring foragers to ask, "can you eat Scotch thistles?" The answer is yes, but only certain parts and with careful preparation.