Plant Badges Revisted

[sailortats]

[QUOTE=Ancienne Alliance;1147310]Natural plants are fantastic.

Wouldn't it be great to have articicial plants available for all clans though ? /QUOTE]

Yes, Robert, it would. My plant badge for Clan Stewart is the thistle and that plant is forbidden entry into California. It is considered a pest because it reproduces so easily and would be dangerous to the local plant life.

[Laird_M]

Yes, Robert, it would. My plant badge for Clan Stewart is the thistle and that plant is forbidden entry into California. It is considered a pest because it reproduces so easily and would be dangerous to the local plant life.

Is the Eryngium sp http://muller.lbl.gov/photos/Eryngium.jpg also proscribed? Its not a true thistle, but would go with Hunting Stewart.

[sailortats]

I don't know about that plant but I shall look into it. Thanks for your response Laird M

[Laird_M]

I've grown it as I used to have a landscaping business. Very tolerant of many soil types and salt tolerant. Most varieties come from South America although it is fairly widespread, and its hardy - VERY HARDY. And good for keeping unwanted people out - the leaves are sharp - as I found out doing a blue perenial border for a client.
And I've just found out, it IS actually a true member of the hairless thistles family, so just goes to prove you learn somethign new everyday...(and I'm known in bushcraft and scouting circles for my plantlore knowledge...)

[WVHighlander]

I've grown it as I used to have a landscaping business. Very tolerant of many soil types and salt tolerant. Most varieties come from South America although it is fairly widespread, and its hardy - VERY HARDY. And good for keeping unwanted people out - the leaves are sharp - as I found out doing a blue perenial border for a client.
And I've just found out, it IS actually a true member of the hairless thistles family, so just goes to prove you learn somethign new everyday...(and I'm known in bushcraft and scouting circles for my plantlore knowledge...)

Interesting...our Clan is currently looking at two plants to make the official plant badge and the Sea Holly is one of them. (I believe it is ahead in the votes right now.) Its a great looking plant which I've voted for as well. If you can pass on more info on it I'd be appreciative.

[Destin_scot]

[QUOTE=sailortats;1147342]

Natural plants are fantastic.

Wouldn't it be great to have articicial plants available for all clans though ? /QUOTE]

Yes, Robert, it would. My plant badge for Clan Stewart is the thistle and that plant is forbidden entry into California. It is considered a pest because it reproduces so easily and would be dangerous to the local plant life.

Sailortats,

There are at least 40 species/sub-species of thistle that are native to California, some are threatened and endangered, but you should be able to find some to grow from a native plant supplier. Check this link, it has photos, descriptions, and native status.

http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/spec...-genus=Cirsium

[sailortats]

Destin, thanks for the address. I never knew there were so many different thistles. I certainly should be able to one or two of these to grow.

[McElmurry]

I have planted several driftwood but none have produced a sprig. Maybe I'm too far inland.

[Laird_M]

Destin, thanks for the address. I never knew there were so many different thistles. I certainly should be able to one or two of these to grow.

Indeed, there are at least three families that I know of - the Scottish style thistle, the hailress and the Milk, so find one you can grow shouldn't be a problem.

[TheOfficialBren]

We have some family that own a cattle ranch above Morro Bay, California. I can attest to seeing thistles very similar to the Scottish thistle growing in the wild out on the hill.