The caterpillar should be easy to notice, not so the eggs, I would think. Hi Mary, all milkweed seeds are brown….your seeds could be speciosa but that species is more common to western butterfly gardens. There are many different varieties of milkweed plants native to different regions of the U.S., Canada, and South America. Starting milkweed from seed is tricky. I’m in IL zone 5a. Our dogs have never touched milkweed, and we have many varieties growing in our garden. Common milkweed plants grow to about 2 to 4 feet in height, with a thin, vertical growth habit. Milkweed is a perfect nectar-rich plant for a butterfly garden. I tried the milk spray, but still no luck. Do you think the milkweed will survive in a large planter? Milkweeds make great plants for a sunny border. Most other milkweed species prefer dry conditions and will do better without any mulch. Sap milky. Growing Perennials in Cold Climates; Mike Heger et al. Be the first to review this product. It also has some medicinal and other uses. If you don’t want tropical in your garden, it works well as a container plant too. Prepare a planting hole that's twice as deep and twize as wide as the root ball of your milkweed plant. Also, I have a small dog…are they a problem….poisonous? You can always try it. The milkweed flower (Asclepias syriaca) and its cousin butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) are an integral part of the butterfly garden, a source of nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds. I have some questions about speciosa. Now, so it’s ready for fall planting in hardiness zone 7a. Blooms are 3"-8" in diameter and have many smaller blossoms. The dogbane-milkweed family Asclepias, Apocynum, Calotropis, and Trachomitum spp) has been used for fiber industrial crops for … CC BY 2.0. It has spread each year but no flowers. First, however, you’ll want to gradually accustom them to the weather outdoors by taking them outside during the day and back in at night. Hi Betsy, I have not tried growing speciosa in pots. I was wondering how deep the runners go, thinking maybe I could surround them with aluminum flashing to keep them confined. To grow Swamp Milkweed from seed, cold stratify in a moist paper towel in the refrigerator for 2 months, stored in a zip lock bag. Start checking on your garden area in the spring. I actually took rhizome cuttings with small sprouts from existing Showy Milkweed and it appears I now have a two dozen new plants in the meadow patch. Would love to hear feedback before it’s too late! The bloom on your plant will vary on the timing and duration of the bloom. The yard gets at lest 6 hours of sun a day. Put the seeds and paper towels in a plastic bag and seal it shut. I have a 5 year old swamp milkweed plant and tropical milkweed that have never shown any sign of monarch activity. Hi Robin, speciosa is a somewhat aggressive grower with underground rhizomes so it probably wouldn’t be one of the best species to grow in containers. I have a bed of day lillies from the 50’s that is many feet deep with pods. I live in Houston, where summers are long, hot and humid. Thanks! I am a little worried about how invasive this plant will be. Flowers, leaves, the root, and seeds are all edible. Is there any chance of the rhizomes growing under a (six-foot wooden) fence and invading the neighbor’s yard? It sent up more shoots and one year butterfly caterpillars completely devoured the leaves. I live in CO (Denver), and I’ve only started reading about milkweed. Hi Kaye, I haven’t tried planting that in the upper midwest, but if it’s not attracting any butterfly activity I would suggest diversifying your milkweed. It is a native wildflower for any central west and western gardener looking to put out a buffet for loads of beneficial insects. Wondering what could be wrong? I have planted several types of milkweed for the monarchs migration through northern Kentucky. Vinca has no difficulty there. Asclepias speciosa. The flowers are discolored with black and are wilted. The flowers are a great source of nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial insects. Would this variety of milkweed do well in a container? You can start them from seed, for a cost-effective project. Once the … Dave in Houston, gardeners’ hell. 4/4/2020 10:37:05 am. Water your seed trays well and leave them in a warm place to germinate. Hi Kris, this really depends on what space you have available and how many plants you have. I thought they liked poor soil, but I’m not sure what the problem is. Do not attempt to dig up and divide or transplant established milkweed plants. $3.25. Most milkweed species will have a better germination rate with cold treatment: Before you plant, I suggest figuring out which species you have and asking if the seeds have received cold treatment. thank you, Hi Belinda, common and showy milkweed can look pretty bad by season’s end, but they are generally hardy perennials. When established, can I allow nature to run its course, or should I take precautions for the monarchs to thrive. I wonder if I do more good or harm by trying to root it out? ... For this reason, milkweed seed is best sown in fall. Hi Jane, we are in our early days with this variety too. As for your parsley, those were probably black swallowtail caterpillars that you saw. I control my Showy Milkweed by hand pulling the shoots but it is mildly invasive (in terms of a planned yard) and I am concerned about it running into my neighbors lawn in one spot. Hi Jonathon, you can do it now or wait until spring…, First year growing showy in central Indiana zone 5b. There’s no need to water your seeds, since nature will take care of that for you during the coming months. Hi Kris, if you have limited space, you might consider non-aggressive rhizome spreaders like: Blue mist flower seeds a lot but is easy to pull and bee balm spreads a bit too. Both spread by seed and root, so that your garden will continue to develop a bountiful assortment of the plant over the years. They don't require any fertilizer to thrive. Monarch Butterfly Garden- Bring Home the Butterflies, Butterfly Garden Ideas and Gardening Tips to Attract Monarchs, Swallowtails, Hummingbirds, and other Precious Pollinators, Asclepias speciosa: showy milkweed, showy butterfly weed, creek milkweed, Greek milkweed, Asclepias speciosa also attracts checkerspots, hairstreaks, honeybees, hummingbirds, painted lady butterflies, pale swallowtails, sphinx moths, queens, tiger swallowtails, variegated fritillaries  and more… (If you know of others, please comment below.). 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