cotton-thistle, Onopordon acanthium

Cotton-thistle says thanks. It needs areas of disturbance in order to thrive. This biennial does not do well competing with established perennials. Our pastures and other disturbances are ideal. Now this Eurasian thrives around the globe. Wiki uses the Utah example. Cotton-thistle was first found there in 1963. By 1981 it covered 6070 hectares in 17 counties, and in it was on 22,540 in 22 of Utah's 29 counties. This is the Scottish national flower. They like to be prickly, but not picky. Any thistle will do. Cotton-thistle has been reported from AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY, BC, NB, MB, NS, ON, and QC. Beal Gardens, MSU, 6/14/12. Aster family, Asteraceae.