I have had Nyjer seed sprout for me, as the flower almost looks marigold-ish. I've had bags spill on the ground and some plants do result, but mabye a handful only.

Thistle grows great but from seed you don't get much seed from the resulting flower.

I think it's worth having a few seeds germinating to see the birds in the garden. Nyjer does seem to sprout over here, but it only takes a couple of seconds with the mower to get rid of it. Nice article.

This sprouts! All in my flower beds, all in my veg, I fight it all summer since my neighbor became a bird watcher. I love birds do what I can to help them, but the thistle is invasive and what the birds "plant" produces more seed.

I get a variety of brassicas from bird seed that sprout. Free seedlings to grow!