has anyone tried growing the Swan Plant for monarchs? I just read about them.
? Swan Plant
I am growing two of them for the first time this year and have had a few Monarch eggs laid on the leaves already so they must be acceptable to the Monarch mamas. The plants are about 30 inches high now and beginning to put out lateral branches at the leaf nodes. Anxious to see how well they do in our hot and humid summer. So far, so good. Very fast growing, certainly grows as fast as the tropical for me. They will not overwinter for me and will have to be started new each year but they are quite easy to germinate. If the growth is good, with lots of leaves, it will be well worth the small effort each year.
About three weeks ago, I had a single mama Monarch show up and lay eggs on the SWAN plants, Honey Vine (a milkweed vine), tropical and swamp milkweed! I think the same little butterfly returned the next day about the same time and laid some more eggs. I hand raised 22 cats and released the first one yesterday, a very healthy, lovely female! Sad to say, I didn't realize the wasps were getting the little cats I left on the plants outside so now I'm trying to find a trap that will work to reduce the number of wasps before the next round of little cats arrive. Just received traps I ordered from a Canadian company that uses a liquid formula that attracts the wasps to the trap. It's gotten good reviews from first users and sure hope it works.
Mary
Thanks Mary- I'm going to have to get some Swan plant seeds.
I raise Monarch caterpillars also, but I built a Nursery out of pvc/ tulle/ old zippers. It keeps the wasps away from the babies. We have a lanai and I keep the nursery under the covered area.
What is a 'Swan plant'?
Kay, the following should identify it for you. Swan Plant is just one of many common names the Asclepias physocarpa is known by. I've read it is grown in Australia as a primary Monarch host plant.
Asclepias physocarpa (Balloon Plant, Hairy Balls, Balloon Cotton-Bush, Balloon plant, Swan Plant, Family Jewels Milkweed Tree, Gomphocarpus physocarpa)... Family: Apocynaceae (Milkweed) Origin: Native to Southeastern Africa Light: Full sun Height: Can reach 6' or higher Spacing: 3-4' Blooms: Small with creamy white hoods Foliage: 3-4" long, light green, narrow, linear-lanceolate Fruit: Pale green, ballon-like, hairy capsule with seeds inside Soil: Well-drained, sandy, keep moist Water: High Uses: Understory, back of perennial border, mass planting Propagation: by Seeds
Mary
Thanks!