Thistle Flower.... or.... Thistle Weeds
(You, make the call)
"Thistle is a flower, which gardeners enjoy growing."
"Thistle is an invasive weed, and not easy to control."
"Thistle plants are great to have around the yard to attract goldfinches."
"I love Milk Thistle. It's milky sap serves my medical ailment."
Boy, if you were a thistle plant, you'd probably have a personality complex,
suffering from multiple personalities. There's a love-hate relationship with
Thistle..... either you love it, or you hate it.
There are hundreds of varieties of Thistle. Some (Ie. Canadian Thistle),
are truely invasive. They quickly spread through pastures. Cows will not
graze near them. Others, are grown by gardeners for their flowers. Many of
these gardeners, also grow thistle to attract finches to their
yards. Goldfinches just love thistle seeds.
Milk Thistle has medicinal applications, and has been in use since the Roman
Empire. Most notably, milk thistle has been used to treat liver ailments.
It has also been used to treat kidney and spleen problems.
Propagation:
Thistle are grown from seed. They also readily propagate through their roots.
New plants develop from buds on the root system. And, in many varieties,
this growth is very aggressive.
How to Grow Thistle:
Thistle are very easy to grow. They prefer full sun and will thrive in average
or better soils. Once Thistle has sprouted, there is very little care you
need to provide. They will do well all on their own.
Control of Thistle Weed:
Most herbicides will kill off the plant, but new ones emerge from the root
system.
More Information:
Buy Flower, Vegetable and Herb Seeds Finest quality
Ferry Morse Seed, America's oldest seed company with their famous "guarantee
to grow".
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