Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Tuesday - November 26, 2013
From: Dripping Springs, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Invasive Plants, Non-Natives
Title: Advisability of growing Silybum marianum (Milk thistle)
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I just received a load of clay-mix-dirt - and after our recent rains noticed the pile sprouting what looks like "Milk Thistle." Lots of them. The leaves are spiny and variegated - quite pretty. I was thinking I might translate a few to my native garden but I don't know much about this plant other than it is interesting looking. Would this be a bad idea?ANSWER:
Silybum marianum (Milk thistle) is a native of Southern Europe, the Mediterranean area and North Africa. As an introduced species to North America it is considered invasive or, at the very least, a noxious weed in many areas. It is on the Arkansas Noxious Weeds List, the Oregon Noxious Weeds List and the Washington Noxious Weeds List. Here is a link from King County, Washington with information about its bad qualities. On the other hand, it is also praised for its herbal medicinal properties, but see also the Mayo Clinic reference. All in all, I would say it would be a pretty bad idea to grow milk thistle. First of all, it's not native to Texas nor even to North America. Second of all, it has the potential to be a problem plant if it escapes your flower beds and the seeds can be distributed by the wind. Why not get seeds of one or more of the Texas thistle species [Cirsium texanum (Texas thistle) or Cirsium horridulum (Yellow thistle)] to grow?
From the Image Gallery
More Non-Natives Questions
Looking for non-native angled luffa, Luffa acutangula, seeds
March 15, 2009 - looking for angled luffa seeds in austin txThank you,your web site advertises luffa as an exception
i get the run around about luffas ever where i go on the net why does evrybody advertise luffa but...
view the full question and answer
Non-native, invasive Datura sprouting from compost
September 26, 2005 - Hi,
I have a plant growing out of some compost we purchased this spring and no one can tell me what it is.
It's about 4 ft. tall, the stem is maroon like rhubarb and it produces 4-5 in. tubular lig...
view the full question and answer
Non-native crapemyrtles changing color in Homer LA
June 23, 2009 - I have six natchez crape myrtles, 2 1/2 years old now. This year, one of them has started blooming in a lavender color. Have you ever heard of this?
view the full question and answer
Identification of tree in California
May 02, 2012 - A medium-size tree with shiny green leaves toward the bottom and garnet red ones toward the top of the tree. The leaves are narrow with saw-toothed edges. There are clustered small white flowers with ...
view the full question and answer
Wintering over a Cuphea ignea in Iowa Zones 4-5
August 29, 2006 - I have a Cigar Plant, or a cuphea. I live in Iowa and need to know how to take care of this plant. Does this plant die and that's it, or does this plant come back year after year?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |