I just ordered 8 Mikweed plants from Rose Frankin's.
http://www.butterflybushes.com/index.htm
I really just love the orange flowers in the summer and the Monarch Butterflies need thier host plants. I really wanted to get some last year but I waiting too long and they were sold out.
Adding some orange Milkweeds
I've been sowing them from seeds.
I did get a bunch of seedlings last year, which the cats munched down to sticks... I'm hoping for blooms this year.
I've got 2 seedling being nursed along on a window sill ... but still should sow more seeds.
Can't have too many plants for the Cats.
But i do sow/grow Scarlet MW and Silky which are annuals, so i do get plenty of blooms.
I used to have lots and lots and lots of Butterfly Weed, mostly the white ones but some pink. Some of them died out over the years and some got misplaced as I redid certain garden sections. To make up for the fact that I had less milkweed in the garden, I planted lots and lots of Tropical Milkweed last year. I did love the looks of the flowers and the fact that it just keeps on flowering from spring till done in by frost. What I did not know about the tropical Milkweeds (because I never had them before) was that they are not as tall, skinny upright growing as the perrenial Butterfly Weed. The main stalk is upright but it keeps on throwing out side stalks which then flower, thus making the plant shrubbier than I am used to for milkweeds.
Cats eat Asclepias? That's new to me! Here's mine from last year.
Cats = Caterpillars
duh! I was worried because I have 4 cats!
This message was edited Apr 21, 2009 5:48 PM
ROFL... yanno, the first time i ventured into teh Butterfly forum and saw everyone talking about cats... i had no idea what they were referring to, and at that point, i didnt have a cat, but i do now.
Ha, ha. Me too! (thought cats meant pussy cats).
I like that scarlet tropical milkweed, too. So cute and easy to grow from seed and around here it's the Monarchs favorite asclepias, too. Also the other butterflies like to nectar on it.
I like the milkweed tuberosum (orange) too, but my soil seems to be too wet/heavy for it to really thrive. (I think kill it with kindness since it is a typical 'roadside' planting here and seems to love neglect.
tabasco,
I had the same problem trying to grow asclepias tuberosa--my soil is clay and the orange asclepias just won't grow in it. I was looking through the online catalog of High Country Gardens and discovered they have a variety that has been developed to grow in clay soil. I ordered three and they are all growing great for me (and the monarch cats love them!). They are already up (third year for them) and looking great again. And, of course, they keep spreading out each year :-}
Hi, NatureLover,
Thanks for the tip. I googled and found that particular A. tuberosa, on HCG website, and for anyone interested, here is a list of other clay loving plants HCG offers: http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/group/clay-soil/plants/
Many of them look like good butterfly nectar plants.
I've bought quite a few plants from HCG and they are a real pleasure to work with. When my first order of three A. tuberosa arrived, one was damaged. I emailed them about it and they promptly sent me THREE more plants as a replacement!
LOL we can only hope to be so lucky!!! (-:
I have seen that strain available from here too http://www.prairienursery.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=64 - I was thinking about getting it for my mom who has a rather wet soil. Not sure if it would work for her or not because her problem may be bad drainage. I know she has a storm drain at the rear of her property and that is why she is so wet. Not sure on her drainage though. ONly way to find out is to try I guess. : )
It seems like Milkweed is becoming quite the fashionable plant with so many nurseries offering so many different kinds. I remember just a few years ago it was impossible to find, except for the basic tuberosas....
It's funny because I have never seen Milkweed in a local nursery around here. I had to go for a hour long drive to get some. Actually there is one place that has a small selection. I think they only have the Swamp Milkweed in White and the other popular pink hybrid. Actually you made me want to go get some! : )
Oh, yes, it is hit or miss to find around here too. The better nurseries might have one or two kinds if I'm there on a lucky day. Basically 'cindarella', ice ballet, tuberosa or incarnata. In mid summer the big box stores have a few, but I often think they use pesticides on them.
On line, though, there seem to be a number asclepias 'specialist' stockists or butterfly plant resources. Of course, a few have been around for a while but it seems many are popping up with websites. And many more 'native plant' nurseries that have started stocking a good selection.
Let's see... there's Rose Franklin, Seneca Hill, Shady Oaks Butterfly Farm, Prairie Moon, Monarch watch (seeds), high country gdns,
I'm sure other posters can think of other online milkweed sources....?
Someone should start selling it here on Dave's garden in the Classifieds, or maybe they do!?
I forgot to tell you that I will be sure and save some seed for you. I had lousy germination from my A. tuberosa seeds I saved last year. I put a lot in a ws container and only 2 or 3 sprouts so far. I am not giving up on it yet. Almost all my other containers of other types of plants had tons of germination. I think I will just prick out the couple that germinated and leave it over another winter. I am just bummed because I think I usually have awesome germination from them indoors at room temp.!