New Butterfly weed (Milkweed) seedlings

I am starting two butterfly weeds from seed: asclepsia tuberosa, and asclepsia curassavica. I know that one is supposed to be a perennial, and one is an annual, but I can't remember which is which right now. At any rate, I was wondering if the perennial would still attract butterflies if it doesn't bloom this year. I am assuming that I wont see any blooms on the perennial.

Last year was my first year with butterfly weed, and I can't remember what happened when they bloomed, if they bloomed. I know that the leaves were stripped off. I think that I picked up alclepsia tuberosa, and incarnata last year from the nursery. I know incarnata is a perennial so I should expect to see that this spring.

Based upon the little that I remember, I am also wondering if I should plant them in more than one location? I seem to remember seeing the plants being reduced to just a stick by the catepillars. Of course, last year, I only had four plants. This year I should have almost of dozen of each of the tuberosa and curassavica.

I don't have a single picture of the butterfly weed when I checked all of my garden pictures. Probably because they didn't have any butterflies on them. Lot of them on the echinacea though.

This message was edited Mar 11, 2008 10:28 PM

You can never have too much milkweed :o) The Queens and Monarchs out here eat them to the bare stem. The more you plant the more caterpillars you get :o)

Love the swallowtails on tithonia. I've seen such great photos of butterflies on it from lots of folks on here. That is one plant I really need to grow this year. Have been working on some seed trades so I best get on the ball before it's too late!

~ Cat

Hi, penne,

I recall even when the tuberosa is established in the garden it emerges from dormancy later in the summer. Even so, I like it in the garden--it thrives in light sandy soil and doesn't need a lot of moisture. It's about 2 or maybe 3 feet tall here. The butterflies don't seem to nectar/ovipost on it quite so much--it is a bit hidden by taller plants so maybe the butterflies don't see it, yet it is still a nice garden flower combined with batchelor buttons and other blue/purple flowers. I often see it on hillsides and slopes along highways here. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/73/

Asclepias currasavica is far and away the favorite for the butterflies in our garden. It is annual in our zones and it is taller in our garden than the tuberosa. I like it planted with zinnias and maybe I'll put some near our new cannas. It's tropical and kind of blends well with other tropical style flowers. I am trying to over winter some in the garage, but I don't have high hopes for that. The recommended propagation method is cuttings for this one, which I haven't tried but will this summer.

I am going to try to start seeds Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed). I think this is the one that can stand partial shade. I have had it in the garden before ( I think I bought 'Cinderella' plants from Big Dipper a couple of years ago) and the butterflies liked this one, too, a lot. I want to grow more along a shady edge of our lot.

If anyone is lurking and wants more info on Milkweeds here's the Big Dipper link: http://www.bigdipperfarm.com/cgi-bin/searchstuff.pl?Botanical=Asclepias

Some recommend planting the milkweeds in two different locations. That way the predators that hang out in the nectar garden may miss the cats on the milkweeds planted some distance away. Also two locations doubles your chances that the Monarchs will find them for oviposting or nectaring. Plus, some people find certain milkweeds unlovely looking and don't want them in their proper flower garden (except the few kinds of milkweed that are traditionally 'garden worthy' like tuberosa, curassavica, and some kinds of incarnata.

Another thought--the monarchs are said to like tender new leaves for laying eggs so I stagger my Asclepias plantings so I have fresh stuff coming along. And also pinch back, etc.

Just some ideas...sorry for rambling on....can you tell I'm excited about spring coming and the garden getting going?!! LOL

If you have a pretty small number of milkweed, it might be better to have them fairly close. To attract the mother butterflies. But if you have quite a lot, plant some in different areas of the yard.