I have a lot of milk thistle (the one with the white variegation) and one or two other kinds that are a little smaller. I don't worry about them until early spring (except in the garden and lawn), and just mow them a couple times in spring when they start to flower but before they set seed. Then at least for my work in thistle fighting I get a considerable amount of compost and mulch for the garden. Fewer of them come up these days than when I first started this, but it's impossible to mow the entire countryside and the wind blown seed tends to get around. I've actually kind of learned to not mind the thistles due to the amount of compost they produce - milk thistle in particular is a great compost crop. Next season I'm putting in some cardoon and artichokes since their cousins seem so happy here. For the lawn I have a manual coring aerator and that's my thistle and dandelion killer. I just go around the lawn and take cores from the center of the rosettes. That leaves cores with the taproot on the surface to die, and the aeration improves the health of the lawn by loosening the soil and improving watcher catching capability and retention, and providing some loose surface soil for overseeded fescue to hide from the birds under and germinate. That can be a lot of cores, but a good job of aeration will take a core ever 6" or so.

I love the Missouri botanical plantfinder site. It has a very extensive database and lets you search on all kinds of things. Here is what I got for full sun, zone 5, blue bloom perennials. Start googling! Anchusa azurea 'Dropmore' blue bugloss 4-5 3-10 Anchusa azurea 'Loddon Royalist' blue bugloss 1-3 3-8 Aster amellus 'Veilchenkigin' VIOLET QUEEN Italian aster 1-2 5-8 Aster 'Celeste' michaelmas daisy 2-2.5 4-8 Aster ericoides 'Blue Star' heath aster 1-3 3-9 Aster laevis 'Bluebird' smooth aster 2.5-3 4-8 Aster linariifolius stiff aster 1-2 4-9 Aster 'Little Carlow' aster 1.5-2 4-8 Aster novi-belgii 'Blue Lagoon' michaelmas daisy 1-1.5 4-8 Aster oblongifolius aromatic aster 1-3 3-8 Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies' aromatic aster 1.5-2 3-8 Aster puniceus glossy-leaved aster 6-8 2-9 Aster sedifolius 'Nanus' aster 1-1.5 4-7 Aster tataricus tartarian aster 3-6 3-9 Aster 'Wood's Purple' aster 1-1.5 4-8 Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta calamint 1-1.5 5-7 Catananche caerulea cupid's dart 1-2 4-7 Centaurea montana mountain bluet 1-2 3-8 Centaurea montana 'Gold Bullion' perennial cornflower 1-2 3-8 Delphinium exaltatum tall larkspur 4-6 5-7 Delphinium grandiflorum Siberian larkspur 1-2 4-7 Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly' Siberian larkspur 1-1.5 3-7 Delphinium (Pacific hybrids) larkspur 4-6 3-7 Delphinium treleasei Trelease's larkspur 2-4 5-7 Dianthus superbus carnation 0.75-1.5 3-8 Echinops bannaticus globe thistle 4-6 4-9 Echinops bannaticus 'Blue Globe' globe thistle 2-3 3-8 Echinops bannaticus 'Blue Glow' blue globe thistle 2-4 3-8 Echinops gmelinii globe thistle 1.5-2 3-8 Echinops ritro small globe thistle 3-4 3-8 Echinops ritro subsp. ruthenicus small globe thistle 2-3 4-8 Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue' small globe thistle 3-3.5 3-8 Echium vulgare viper's bugloss 1-2.5 4-8 Erigeron 'Azurfee' AZURE FAIRY fleabane 1-2.5 5-8 Erigeron 'Dunkelste Aller' DARKEST OF ALL daisy fleabane 1.5-2 2-8 Eryngium alpinum 'Blue Star' eryngo 1-2.5 2-8 Eryngium bourgatii eryngo 1-2 5-8 Eryngium giganteum Miss Willmott's ghost 2-4 4-7 Eryngium planum sea holly 2-3 5-9 Eryngium planum 'Blue Glitter' sea holly 2-3 5-8 Eryngium 'Sapphire Blue' sea holly 2-2.5 5-9 Eryngium variifolium eryngo 1-1.5 5-9 Goniolimon incanum 'Blue Diamond' sea lavender 2-2.5 3-9 Goniolimon tataricum statice 1-1.5 4-10 Iris 'City Lights' tall bearded iris 2.5-3 3-10 Iris 'Clarence' tall bearded reblooming iris 2.5-3 3-10 Iris 'Midnight Fragrance' tall bearded iris 2.5-3 3-10 Iris 'Monty's Sweet Blue' bearded iris 2.5-3 3-10 Iris 'Rosalie Figge' tall bearded reblooming iris 2.5-3 3-10 Iris 'St. Petersburg' tall bearded reblooming iris 2.5-3 3-10 Iris virginica southern blue flag 1-3 5-9 Iris virginica 'Contraband Girl' southern blue flag 2-4 5-9 Iris virginica 'Purple Fan' southern blue flag 2-3 5-9 Lavandula angustifolia 'Buena Vista' English lavender 1.5-2 5-8 Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead' English lavender 1-1.5 5-8 Lavandula angustifolia 'Potpourri Sky Blue' English lavender 0.75-1.5 5-8 Lavandula x intermedia (Dutch Group) lavandin 1.5-2.5 5-8 Limonium platyphyllum sea lavender 2-2.5 3-9 Lupinus x hybrida lupine 3-4 4-8 Malva sylvestris 'Dema' MARINA high mallow 1-1.5 5-7 Penstemon canescens beard tongue 1-3 5-8 Penstemon grandiflorus large beard tongue 2-4 3-9 Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian sage 3-5 5-9 Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire' Russian sage 1.5-2 5-9 Perovskia 'Blue Spire' perovskia 2-3 5-9 Perovskia 'Filigran' Russian sage 2-4 5-9 Pontederia cordata pickerel weed 2-4 3-10 Pulsatilla patens eastern pasque flower 0.25-1 3-7 Salvia azurea 'Nekan' blue sage 2-4 4-9 Salvia azurea var. grandiflora blue sage 3-5 5-9 Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' sage 1-2 4-8 Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus' sage 0.5-1 4-8 Salvia officinalis common sage 2-2.5 4-8 Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten' common sage 1.5-2 5-8 Salvia pratensis meadow sage 1-3 4-8 Salvia x superba 'Merleau' sage 1-1.5 5-8 Salvia x sylvestris 'Blauhügel' BLUE HILL wood sage 1.5-2 4-8 Salvia x sylvestris 'Lye End' wood sage 3-5 4-7 Salvia x sylvestris 'Mainacht' MAY NIGHT wood sage 1.5-2 4-8 Salvia x sylvestris 'Rhapsody in Blue' wood sage 1.5-2 4-8 Salvia x sylvestris 'Viola Klose' wood sage 1-1.5 4-8 Salvia verticillata lilac sage 1.5-2.5 5-8 Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue' pincushion flower 1-1.5 5-9 Scabiosa caucasica pincushion flower 1.5-2 3-7 Scabiosa caucasica 'Kompliment' pincushion flower 1.5-2 3-7 Scabiosa caucasica (Perfecta Series) pincushion flower 1.5-2 3-7 Scabiosa 'Giant Blue' pincushion flower 1.5-2 3-7 Scabiosa 'Grand Stone' pincushion flower 1-2 4-7 Scabiosa 'Ultra Violet' pincushion flower 1.5-2 3-7 Scabiosa 'Vivid Violet' pincushion flower 1-1.5 3-7 Scutellaria resinosa 'Smoky Hills' skullcap 0.5-1 4-8 Sisyrinchium angustifolium blue-eyed grass 1.5-2 4-9 Sisyrinchium angustifolium 'Lucerne' blue-eyed grass 0.5-1 4-8 Sisyrinchium campestre prairie blue-eyed grass 0.5-1 2-8 Stokesia laevis 'Blue Danube' Stokes' aster 1-1.5 5-9 Stokesia laevis 'Klaus Jelitto' Stokes' aster 1-1.5 5-9 Stokesia laevis 'Omega Skyrocket' Stokes' aster 3-4 5-9 Stokesia laevis 'Peachie's Pick' Stokes' aster 1-1.5 5-9 Stokesia laevis 'Wyoming' Stokes' aster 1-1.5 5-9 Verbena hastata American blue vervain 2-6 3-8 Verbena stricta hoary vervain 2-4 4-7 Veronica 'Blue Reflection' speedwell 0.25-0.5 4-7 Veronica 'Darwin's Blue' speedwell 1-1.5 4-8 Veronica 'Goodness Grows' speedwell 0.75-1 3-8 Veronica liwanensis speedwell -0.25 4-9 Veronica longifolia 'Blauriesin' BLUE GIANTESS long leaf speedwell 3-4 4-8 Veronica longifolia 'Blue John' long leaf speedwell 1-1.5 4-8 Veronica longifolia 'Joseph's Coat' long leaf speedwell 3-4 5-8 Veronica 'Mann's Variety' speedwell 0.5-0.75 5-8 Veronica 'Midnight' speedwell 1-1.5 4-9 Veronica spicata 'Blue Charm' spiked speedwell 1-1.5 3-8 Veronica spicata 'Glory' ROYAL CANDLES spiked speedwell 0.75-1 3-8 Veronica spicata 'High Five' speedwell 1-3 4-8 Veronica spicata 'Nana' spiked speedwell 0.5-0.75 3-8 Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue' speedwell 1.5-2 4-9 Veronica 'Waterperry Blue' speedwell 0.25-0.5 4-8 Viola pedata bird's foot violet 0.25-0.5 4-8 Lisa Here is a link that might be useful: MOBOT search

Not sure about the phragmites and catails bc I have yet to learn to distinguish them from our natives. what i do know is there's a big dog-stranger vine, Himalayan balsam, buckthorn, and Russian olive problem in my area. Also our Canadian thistle while native is outcompeting other plants and creating monoculture in a big way :( I'll keep contacting the invasive center thanks for sharing everyone!

Have FLOWERS White Aquilegra Blue Aquilegra Purple Aquilegra French Marigold Yellow Large Marigold Mexican Crackerjack orange and yellow Marigold Marigold Red Aurora Orange Marigolds Cerinthe Nicandra Blanket Flower Pincouchin Flower Black Eyed Susan HERBS Chamomile Lions Tail (edible) (smokeable) Tobacco Seeds (Edible) (smokeable) Lemon Balm Nigella Borage Amaranth Sweet William Hops Agastache Yellow Hyssop St Johns Wort Rue Salvia Purple Rain Echinaeca Cilantro FLOWERS Datura Blue Datura Vine White Datura (large blooms) Purple Datura (double) Moonflower Purple Moonflower White Morning Glory Grandpa Otts Morning Glory Trumpet Vine Split Personality Vine Cardinal Climber Vine Jasmine Vine Pink Coral Vine White Coral Vine Passionflower Vine Blue Lobelia White Milkweed Mexican Red Milkweed Antelope Milkweed Hosta Zinnia Foxglove (poisonous) Digitalis lutea Mullien (edible) (smokeable) Calandria Coreopsis Clarkia Poppies Blue ice desert Poppy Pink Lavender Oriental Scarlett Peony Poppy Poppy Laurens Grape Pink Peony Poppy Heuchera Liatris Honesty Thalictrum lavender dust Daisy Sweet pea flower Birdsfoot Morning glory VEGETABLE Okra Squash Beans Peas Pumpkin Radish Lettuce Cucumber Tomatoes Peppers Kohlrabi Beets Cauliflower FLOWERS Schizanthus porrigens Limanthus douglasi Blue Delphinium Pride of Barbados Baptisma Australis Amarylis hybrid Cranes Geranium Prairie Mallow Sunflowers Mammoth Russian Star Lemon Queen Black Oil Columbine Butterfly Bush Cosmos Goatsbeard Clematis Silohium Pertoliatum (Cuppa Flower) (Large) Hollyhock Pink Ruffle Larkspur Chocolate Plant Asclepias Tuberosa Orange Asclepias incarnata White Ascoepias Incarnata Purple Bell Flower Blackberry Iris Aster Greggs Blue Mist Flowers Skeleton Leaf Golden Eye Yellow Bells Evening Primrose Roses Lilliums various Nasturtium Red Mystery Petunia Ironweed Spiderweed Liatris Phlox Bachelor's Buttons Orange cosmos Red and orange cosmos Purple and pink cosmos Impatients Balsama Mix Euphorbia Marginata Mimulus Tigrinus Cream/Burgundy Jewelweed Malva Zebrina Indian Pink Celiosa Maroon Helerium Autumale Snagweed Thalictrum Mimulus Ringens Culvers Root Dodeca Theon Potentilla Anome Sylvestris Eupatorium Purpureum Joe Pye Weed Ratibida Pinnata Spikenard Heuchera Primula Japonica Lambs Ear Ratiba Pinnata Inula Magnifica 4 O'Clocks Red Pink White White yellow stripes Evening Scented Stocks Sweet Pea Snap Dragons TREE SEEDS Cedar Atlas Walnut Tree Yellow Arcacia Indian Plum Emperess Tree Dawn Redwood Katsura Maple