Does anyone have a Giant MIlkweed Tree?

I raise monarchs every year and I am interested in growing Calotropis gigantea for caterpillar food. I am trying to decide if I should buy seeds or a small plant? Does anyone know if this is a fast growing species from seed?

Plexippus, I have used this plant here but started from a one gallon so I do not know the seed starting time or growth period. In my zone it did well, to 7 feet from one season to next. However I was disappointed with the limited use of the plant as a host, as they almost always prefer the A. Tuberosa in my garden. Queens and Monarchs alike.

I recently decided to make better use of the space and pulled it, giving away bits and pieces of it.

Thanks for the info. I think I will just try it from seed since most milkweeds seem to grow quickly. It will be grown in a pot and it will need to come inside for the winter so I don't want it to get too big :)

It is interesting how Monarchs seem to prefer one type of milkweed over others. In my garden they lay more eggs on the A. curassavica than the other types of milkweed I have.

This message was edited Apr 5, 2011 9:53 AM

Plexippus:

I found that to be true in my Monarch Waystation as well. Though I have 7 or 8 varieties of Asclepias, the cats favored A. curvassia and A. incarnata to all others.

This year I have seedlings growing of A. exclepias and A. purpurascens. I chose these two because they tolerate part sun/shade and I have run out of sunny spots in the garden.

~Amanda

plexippus,

You might want to also consider growing common mw in a big pot outdoors as it wouldn't require you to overwinter it in the house. It also germinates quickly from seed. I learned about it as an excellent food source when a nursery owner in our state helped me by mailing me big packets of the common mw leaves when I ran out of food for my Monarch cats the first year I raised them.

Those big leaves provide a lot of food and the little cats took right to them even though I'd been feeding them tropical mw. Last year I started common mw plants in a big tub. They didn't do great last year with our unusually high heat summer but this spring they were the first to show their faces and they're growing beautifully. I am so excited as they are an excellent backup source of food, if needed.

Last spring, when I asked about growing them in a big tub (not wanting them to spread underground throughout my limited garden area) some wondered if they would do well in a big pot. I'm anxious to see how well they hold up through this summer but so far, I'm very happy with my experiment. In fact, seeing how nicely they're doing, I've planted common in a second big pot this spring. You can never have too much mw when you're raising Monarchs. :-)

Mary