Sweet Clover

ggenthusiast Said:
I'm not bashing the plant, just surprized how well it has adapted to some very marginal soils in western ND.  Alfalfa will generally get choked out by grasses when a stand gets old.  Clover seems to not be affected, and actually comes in volunteer in native sod conditions.  I guess thats why I was somewhat surprised to learn its not native.  Generally the only other non-native plants that seem to thrive in native conditions are noxious weeds.

On that note, I'd like to add that the Beulah area has a serious Absinth Wormwood problem.  That stuff is nasty noxious.  The only good thing that it does is the strong odor appears to repel flies when cattle are in it.  Which doesn't really do much good if it chokes out everything else that is edible by said cattle.

ggenthusiast Said:
My point was that I am very surprised some environmental group hasn't made a stink about it.  I'm was a little surprised to see that a plant thriving in native sod, and not a noxious weed, was not itself native.  You don't see that very often.

Farnorth Said:

ggenthusiast Said:
My point was that I am very surprised some environmental group hasn't made a stink about it.  I'm was a little surprised to see that a plant thriving in native sod, and not a noxious weed, was not itself native.  You don't see that very often.

I was surprised that it isn't a native plant.  Although 300 years is a rather long time.

I'm not surprised about a lack of environmental group attention because of the time the plant has been around and the lack of problems it causes.

ggenthusiast Said:

Farnorth Said:

ggenthusiast Said:
My point was that I am very surprised some environmental group hasn't made a stink about it.  I'm was a little surprised to see that a plant thriving in native sod, and not a noxious weed, was not itself native.  You don't see that very often.

I was surprised that it isn't a native plant.  Although 300 years is a rather long time.

I'm not surprised about a lack of environmental group attention because of the time the plant has been around and the lack of problems it causes.

I would say that it probably wasn't in ND 300 years ago, unless some bird from the east coast pooped some seeds out as it passed over.  I'd be willing to be we didn't see it in any amount until it was planted as a forage crop on tilled ground.

I'm not uptight about it.  Just surprised that enviro groups aren't, since it is the dominant vegetation now in some of our public lands.  You yourself stated you were surprized to learn it is not native, as was I.  Sort of nice to learn something new about your surroundings.

Deer, elk, sharptails, cattle all seem to like it.  Other than the fire issue like Allen stated, I see no harm.  

murdock1978 Said:
Honey bees make a lot of very good honey off of sweet clover!!I worked for a bee company for 20 years.sweet clover honey and alfalfa honey is some of the best tasting honey I have ever eaten!!

ggenthusiast Said:

I'm not uptight about it.  Just surprised that enviro groups aren't, since it is the dominant vegetation now in some of our public lands.  You yourself stated you were surprized to learn it is not native, as was I.  Sort of nice to learn something new about your surroundings.

Deer, elk, sharptails, cattle all seem to like it.  Other than the fire issue like Allen stated, I see no harm.