Butterfly Milkweed
$2.99
Perennial. The hardy native milkweed is essential to the survival of Monarch butterflies. Mature butterflies feed on the nectar produced in the flowers, while the foliage provides food for their larvae. The brilliant orange and yellow flowers are showy from June through August in massed plantings, but fascinating up close, with their intricate detail. The three-foot plant usually prefers drier sites, and should be hardy except at very high elevations. Very durable and long-lived once established, and may gently increase on its own in favorable locations. CAUTION: The milky sap is poisonous if ingested in large quantities, and contact with the skin may cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
19 in stock
Product Description
Difficulty:
Easy
Timing:
Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date and transplant or direct sow towards late spring. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 50-75°F. Seeds should sprout in 7-35 days. Asclepias may benefit from stratification: Seeded trays are wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for two to three weeks before being placed over bottom heat. This may result in more even and speedier germination.
Starting:
Barely cover the small seeds. Space transplants 12″-24″ apart.
Growing:
For many years several Milkweed (Asclepias) species were listed as invasive weeds because of their sometimes aggressive spreading by underground rhizomes and their giant, dandelion-like seeds. The seeds emerge from very easy to spot pods which are easily removed before they dry and crack. As the population of wild Asclepias diminished, so did the populations of many butterflies that depend on them as food and nursery plants (including the endangered Monarch). Now that they have been de-listed, we encourage home gardeners to grow them with the advance knowledge that they can spread. Try growing them in a large container like a half barrel, and be conscious of the seed pods as they develop.
Facts:
The milky sap is poisonous if ingested in large quantities; contact with the skin may cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Planting Depth: 1/2″
Distance Apart: 15″
Amount: 150mg
