I have native Maximillan Sunflower seed to trade.Or look at my list and see if we can trade. What is the latin name of your hardy yellow hibiscus. I have one on my trade page, but think it is an annual.Can you look at the picture and let me know if it is the same one. I also have Mexican hat, mostly the yellow but may have the dark redwith yellow mixed in.

jeanr I don't know if they "need" to, but I know that they sure like to. This is the first year I have planted speckled swan gourds and after they over-ran the small string trellis that I started them on, I "bridged" them over to a large (30'X10') pergola that runs along the back of our garage. Once they got to the top of the pergola they exploded and have about covered the entire pergola - along with 2 chinese wisteria that were already there. For a while they did not seem to be setting much fruit on the vines that were on the pergola, but after a healthy dose of compost and a shot of balanced fertilizer there are now about 2 dozen gourds hanging down through the pergola. It looks pretty wierd - my wife now calls it the Gourd House. Since they are hanging, gravity has straightened the necks. About half of them have the swolen section near the vine end typical of speckled swan variety, but the other half doesn't. I couldn't tell you if this was the result of allowing them to hang or not. So far I have not had to support any of the gourds artificially and some of them are in the 8" to 10" diameter range and feel to be about 10 pounds or so in weight. I have separated several of them that were growing together. I don't know if it was necessary, but I thought that the places that two gourds were touching would be a spot for damage from fungus, rot or insects. That is about all I can tell you. Like I said, I don't know if it is a requirement that they climb, but it sure hasn't hurt. By the way, the string trellis that I used to start them was barely strong enough to support the vines. Now that I know what to expect with the size and weight of the gourds that will develop, next time I am going to build something more sturdy, attractive and permanent to get the vines from the garden to the top of the pergola (don't tell the wisteria I said this, but as soon as the gourds are harvested the wisteria is getting moved). Good luck and have fun! Matt

These are a climbing milkweed may go as a common vine name like Twine vine allof these are host plants for the monarchs and a beautiful flowering vine.. Matalea gonocarpa has the purple flower Matalea flavidula has the yellow Matalea Decipiens Matalea Baldwyniana Matalea Carollensis Matalea Obliqua Matalea Reticulata-Pearl milkvine and if you need any pics for these for ID'ing let me know... but am looking for any kind of Matalea's Also Sarcostemma cynanchoides also known as Fringed Twin vine.. I have to trade please also check my list Cynanchum Laeve-Honeyvine Grandpa Otts MG Mini Blue MG Milky Way MG Trumpet vine-yellow-2 trades left Trumet vine-Orange/red Lunaria-purple flowers Physotegia virginiara Hibiscus dinner plate-pink and a white one Bittersweet Vine I might have other things not listed please always ask me. Carol

I am trying to build up my Monarchs and would love to grow these vines the Milkweed Vines Cynanchum Augustfolium Cynanchum barbigerum Cynanchum Variegated Fritillary Cynanchum unifarum Talayote Queen, Soldier Cynanchum varieties but not the white have it Matelea edwardsensis Plateau Milkvine Queen Matelea reticulataPearl Milkvine Monarch Matelea texensis Texas Milkvine Matalea's of any kind Mikania Scandens Sarcostemma crispum Wavy-leaf Milkweed Vine - Feeds the Queen, Soldier, Monarch Sarcostemma cynanchoides Climbing Milkweed - Soldier or any other climbing milkweeds not mentioned. If you can help me out sure would appreciate it.. Thanks Carol