Thistles

Not all thistles are weeds. The Portland Plant List includes at least one, Cirsium hallii, or Hall’s thistle. Cirsium hallii seems to be a synonym for Cirsium edule. According to WeedWise, an invasive weed management program in Clackamas County, there are at least four thistles that are native to western Oregon, including Cirsium edule. Before you pull up a thistle in Portland you might want to use your handy plant app to make sure it’s not Cirsium hallii, Cirsium edule, or one of the other three that are native to Western Oregon (see WeedWise). Native thistles are beneficial especially for pollinators, other insects, and birds. If your thistle is Cirsium arvense or Cirsium vulgare then pull it up. They’re on the Portland Plant Nuisance List.