Plant Badges Revisted

[Thomas H]

A place to buy fresh plant badges would be a good idea . they would have to be overnighted . But clan Ferguson is Pine - so I just cut some off the tree in my back yard
any time I need to wear them .

[creagdhubh]

A place to buy fresh plant badges would be a good idea . they would have to be overnighted . But clan Ferguson is Pine - so I just cut some off the tree in my back yard
any time I need to wear them .

I buy fresh white heather (one of the plant badges of the Clan Macpherson, along with boxwood) online from the same Inverness-shire based company that supplies it to us during the annual Clan Macpherson Gathering in Badenoch. I only buy during the blooming season, otherwise they have dried, white heather available, which just isn't the same. You can buy individual sprigs, sprays and even larger bunches for wreaths. Of course, Scottish white heather isn't the plant badge of every Highland clan, but generally speaking, it is considered lucky.

Cheers,

[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...)

[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.