Eselsdistel

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in almost any ordinary garden soil. Requires a well-drained soil, preferably in full sun though it tolerates light shade. Prefers a slightly alkaline soil. Grows very well in poor soils, succeeding in hot dry situations and tolerating drought when it is established. A slow-growing plant. Hardy to about -15°c. A very ornamental plant, the flowers are very attractive to bees. Plants are prone to slug and snail damage. Often self-sows, sometimes to the point of nuisance, though the seedlings can easily be hoed out and can also be transplanted if they are moved whilst still small.

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Oil Oil Stem Edible Uses: Colouring Oil Oil Flower buds - cooked. A globe artichoke substitute, though they are much smaller and very fiddly to use[K]. Stems - cooked. Used as a vegetable, they are a cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) substitute. The stems are cooked in water like asparagus or rhubarb. They are best if the rind is removed. Leaves and young plants - cooked. They are harvested before the flowers develop and the prickles must be removed prior to cooking. The petals are an adulterant for saffron, used as a yellow food colouring and flavouring. A good quality edible oil is obtained from the seed. The seed contains about 25% oil.

Oil Oil Stuffing The stem hairs are sometimes collected and used to stuff pillows. An oil obtained from the seed is used as a fuel for lamps.

Heimisch: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Asia-Temperate, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Caucasus, China, Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia, Eastern Europe, Europe, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kirgizistan, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Middle Asia, North Caucasus, Northern America, Siberia, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Ukraine, Xinjiang, Yugoslavia Eingeführt: Alabama, Argentina Distrito Federal, Arizona, Australia, Brazil, British Columbia, Buenos Aires, California, Chaco, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Denmark, Estonia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ireland, Kansas, La Araucania, La Pampa, La Rioja, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mendoza, Neuquén, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Negro, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santiago, Southern South America, Tasmania