A whole field of anything colorful is attractive, no matter how invasive.

"The plant occurs throughout the United States except for Alaska, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Georgia (USDA, NRCS, 2001)." --

We don't have it (so far). We have plenty of other thugs, though. Would you like some goldenrod to go with it?

Nell

Here is a link that might be useful: Invasive dot org

I agree that it is really pretty. Sorry it is also a weed ! But such a pretty one LOL. All I have are ugly ones. c

I have never seen it in Missouri either. Sure looks pretty, but then so do thistles!

Now that's really beautiful even if it's a noxious weed. It looks like a field of wild flowers to be thoroughly enjoyed before it gets mowed.
The roadsides around here are full of Queen Anne's Lace, Chicory, Ox Eyed Daisies, Yarrow and Sweet Rocket a very pretty sight before the mowers come by.

Annette

Very pretty.

Wanna trade?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:736116}}

Yep! It counts in my book.

Thugs you have to mow before they set seed vs. thugs who root from every little stem when your mower chops 'em up? No contest!

I get an unidentified pretty little white flower in the spring and Indian paint brush; don't fret if they go to seed. I do mow the outer fields a couple times per year to keep the brambles in check.

Ahhh, TM. Yes, it counts!!! I have the same 'weeds' as Annette - I love them all!!

Nancy.

I think spotted knapweed and musk thistle are pretty as are almost all wildflowers but my DH wages war on the knapweed and thistles each year trying to keep them out of our cattle pastures. We just recently knew what SKW was as the state is trying to eradicate it from along roadways, etc. Here is a link as to what Missouri is doing to try to at least control it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Knapweed in Missouri

That is so pretty - really too bad when such an attractive plant can become so invasive, isn't it? Knapweeds are also on the invasive list here but I haven't seen any on our land. I've heard they are very difficult to eradicate.

Our worst invasive flowering plant is the Oxeye daisy. DH spends a few hours several times a summer with the weed whacker to keep them at bay. Can't mow as the areas are too rough. Some rancher's fields here are completely taken over and no animals eat them as they are bitter. Have heard that fertilizing helps so we may try that.

Here is a link that might be useful: noxious oxeye daisy

Susy, we or I should say I have never seen it on our farm. I will be showing the picture to my husband to warn him about it.

He doesn't have a good eye for anything but thistles!

Very pretty scene, TM. It is a shame that it is so invasive. I haven't seen it here. I am surprised by that, as many of our pretty wildflowers are very invasive.

A shame you have to cut it down.

Janie

susy and luckygal, thank you for sharng your links. very educational for me. and sad, of course.
Pat in Michigan

Nell, thanks for the goldenrod offer, but we seem to have a good supply of that here too. It blooms later than the knapweed, and is not as aggressive, so a trade would be welcome, if you could swing it.

Kathy, I think I'll let you keep those big old thistles down there in Tejas. Is that a musk thistle? It looks scary.

Luckygal, I didn't know that the ox-eye daisies were such a problem. We have some wild daisies around here, but they never amount to much. I don't know if they are the same. I had to chuckle at something in the site you linked to. They described the flowers as daisy-like. Hello? Daisy-like? It is a daisy! :-)

Well, they are all chopped off now. The area is homelier, so I hope the mowing did some good. Reportedly, the spotted knapweed spreads only by seeds and is a short-lived perennial, so mowing all the flowers off every year should eventually cut back on the population.

TM

Sure is a pretty sight! Looks like it's just waiting for a picnic in the middle!

T, it is Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. Non native, but there are lots of them in pastures.

Yes, it counts! Gorgeous! I'd have a hard time cutting it down but I understand the invasiveness. Too bad. Maybe we should just embrace our weeds. Less stress. : )

Diana

In the spring here we are inundated with violets, which especially like to take over the grassless spots. In April it is a beatiful site!One of my daughters loves dandelions, she says a hill covered in them is her favorite view.
aftermidnight; we have Queen Anne's Lace and chicory too, I love when it comes with wild daylilies.:)

PS my DH thinks I'm crazy.