I saw some very interesting thistle-looking plants this weekend. They were silvery-gray and had huge leaves. I will try to think where I saw them and catch a picture later. They looked to be about 18" across, and each leaf looked like it was 6-7" across at the base.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants and Wildflowers - Part 2
Cirsium horridulum goes by various names: Yellow Thistle, Bull Thistle, Horrible Thistle, Spiny Thistle and Purple Thistle. Color of the flower can vary from cream to yellow and pink to dark purple. What sets C. horridulum apart from the other thistles is the size of the spines. The photos in DG's plant files shows the various shades.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/2737/
The leaves also vary in color as well, from green to varying amounts of a reddish color. I found out that this thistle's range extends to the eastern half of Texas, but couldn't find out if it's a native.
Josephine, I'll go out and put bags on some of the flowers later this week and let you know when they are ready.
I saw these last year with the buds just about to open and did not know what they were. Thanks for identifying them.
(edited for typing mistake)
This message was edited Apr 6, 2005 8:33 AM
According to this it is native: http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi?earl=plant_profile.cgi&symbol=CIHO2
Note the distribution map. Eastern except for Nevada! Seems odd.
That does seem strange. Maybe someone took some seeds to Nevada and the plants reseeded everywhere!
This is more like the ones I saw last week. They were even larger than this!
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/834/
Muddies up the definition for me.
We've always called them bull nettles. Pretty, but youch! Those spines hurt like the dickens!!
Thank you Everyone, I knew I could count on you guys to do some good dectective work.
Bettydee, thank you for the input and for saving the seeds for me. The book Wildflowers of Texas called Cirsium horridulum, Yellow thistle, and it shows a yellow flower, another confusion. It looks like this plant is chameleon with spines.
John, your link showed the picture that looked the closest to the one I saw, It was on the second set in the center. Some of the pictures on the Dave's plant files looked very different, and that is why I wasn't sure. It also tells us that it is a native, which makes me happy, because although you wouldn't want more than two or three in your garden, it surely can be a conversation piece.
Mel, it looks like the thistle you saw is a Scotch Thistle, not native but I am sure naturalized,and I think it is beautiful too. Isin't nature wonderful? I never cease to be amzed by the overwhelming variety.
Well it looks like we have all learned a lot in finding out about this plant, don't you love it?
This points out an old problem: using common or regional names. Four years ago I had no idea what bull nettle was. My husband and I spent a great deal of time looking for new wildflowers and identifying them. We learned the hard way that you DO NOT touch wildflowers unless you know that they are harmless. This is the Bull Nettle that my husband touched: http://www.noble.org/imagegallery/Forbhtml/BullNettle.html
We have a habit of picking a sample and bringing it it home to identify.
Josephine, I should have seed of the Senecio ampullaceus soon. I was out looking at the plants and found a patch that should have ripe seed in a few days.
Yes Bettydee, I know about Bull Nettle; ( Cnidoscolus texanus) too, and I did get stung by one. The pain can last a long time, although I think it is not as bad as Poison Ivy. Nevertheless I loved the plant because of the flowers, they look like Stephanotis, a flower widely used in bridal bouquets, and they smell like gardenias, so we very carefully dug one out of an empty field, took it home and planted it in a large pot as a conversation piece, however, it only lasted one year. I know they are perennials, so I gess it didn't like it in the pot. I have never tried it again.
By the way, if you pinch the flowers high on the stem, you can enjoy the beautiful scent, and they don't sting.
Thank you for saving the Senecio seeds for me, I have never been able to get them around here.
On the trip to Tyler we also saw this lovely guy, Crimson Clover; ( Trifolium incarnatum )
This is a native of Europe that has naturalized here and is used by the highway department for roadside beautification and erosion control.
Here is a picture of a patch of it, 4-3-05.
And a close up of the flowers, they look like long skinny strawberries, don't they?
SSSSssssshhhhhh.... don't tell my neighbors, but we planted the red clover in our yard when we were waiting on the grass to come in! The bunnies love it, and leave my plants alone.... and it's cool to walk on in the mornings! i DON'T get to see the flowers, as we mow before they get that high. I have always loved clover.
Makes a great green manure crop, too!!
Nothing wrong with a little diversity in the turf. I love clover, and just let it be!
Great for the soil, too. Adds nitrogen to the soil.
THAT's why.... for the nitrogen.
Looks like we need to start a 3rd string.... This one is longer than the first one now...
More natives......? #3
Hi, I have a question about a tree that I have seen growing in the pastures around Fredericksburg. It has dark bark, white flowers and I'm not sure, but I think it flowers before the leaves come out. I have asked several ranchers what this tree is, and they all look at me like I'm crazy. I'm beginning to wonder if I'm the only one that sees this tree. Has anyone else in this part of the world seen this tree? The ones that I have seen seem to be understory trees. I have never seen one growing very far away from other larger trees.
Mary Lee
Oh, I also might be interested in a heath aster. Can't remember who it was that had that or if you'll be at the RU in Kerrville. I will be.
Thanks, Mary Lee
Might it be a wild plum, one of the Prunus spp?
Hello Silverfluter, I think John is right, the tree is most likely a Mexican Plum,
( Prunus mexicana ) it grows wild as an understory tree and it is native. Isin't it funny how a lot of people don't pay attention to the beauty around them?
I am the one with the Heath Aster, I will try to pot some for you, or save seed this Fall. Either way we will get it to you. I am sorry, but I can't make it to the Kerrville round up.
Josephine.
Hello Everyone; we have started Part 3 of this thread, please post on the new one.
Here is the link to Part 3. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/498342/
Thank you, Josephine.