I was looking at a thistle here in the database and checked its native status. It is native.
http://plants.usda.gov/core/pr...
Yet, it's deemed invasive. Are the Dept. of Agriculture and other entities basing their judgements on a farming experience or true invasiveness? I know a native plant can be aggressive outside its historical range. In Iowa the whole genus Cirsium is deemed noxious, even if they are well behaved and belong here.
I have thought of sowing native thistle in our pasture, but figure the next owners will just dump chemicals on it. Which likely they will do anyway, unless they care about habitat. From the little we know about the history of our place, the area we call "pasture" has never been used for row crops because of the drainage. It was used by the previous owner for his horses.
I do not think I posted the link on this site of an article I enjoyed. I sure would like the bumper sticker someone mentioned in a comment. :)
http://prairieecologist.com/20...
