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Name That Plant!

Is this milkweed and butterflyweed?

15 years ago

Hi everyone! I helped a neighbor a few weeks ago by cleaning up his garden. These two plants I decided not to remove as I thought they were beneficial to butterflies as I did some research here on "Name that Plant" but now I am not so sure. Sorry I hope the quality of the pics is OK if not I will try to send better ones.

Thanks

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Comments (11)

leaa
Original Author
15 years ago
Sorry will try again to post pics!
texasflip
15 years ago
The picture works for me. It's not a milkweed is all I can tell you.
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Iris GW
15 years ago
Looks like Conyza canadensis, sometimes called Horseweed or mare's tail.
Vicki
15 years ago
I have goldenrod growing in my yard that looks exactly like that.
leaa
Original Author
15 years ago
I am going to go look up what has been mentioned here and see what this is. When I started to suspect that what was growing was not Milkweed and did another search I realized another neighbor has a small patch of Milkweed growing in their front yard and I could see the difference right away, completely different plant.
leaa
Original Author
15 years ago
I searched both names and I think it is Solidago "Altissima" some spieces of Goldenrod. Not sure what to do with it, I might take the picture down to the nursery and see what they say. If it is invasive I will remove it as it is only a small raised garden bed. I think I will try to plant Milkweed...maybe get some from the other neighbor! :)
dbs_illinois_4
15 years ago
Well, Solidago altissima is Canada Goldenrod, so if you have a small garden you definitely would NOT want it. I'm into native plants, but even the people I know who plant 2-5 acre prairies don't plant Canada Goldenrod, and many try to control it if it moves in on its own.

You will also have to be careful with the Milkweeds--make sure you know what your neighbor has before getting some. Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is magnificent and smallish, but make sure you meet its requirements as it can be hard to grow without the right soil. I am hoping to find a local source (or grow from seed) some Purple Milkweed (A. purpurascens) as it is smaller and I think not as aggressive as Common Milkweed. Swamp Milkweed is wonderful, but needs a lot of moisture and is also quite large.

Now if you have a far corner to let some Common Milkweed run around in, go for it! I think it is still the Monarchs' favorite, I have been raising some caterpillars and so far have found eggs only on the Common.

Here is a link that might be useful: Milkweeds on Monarch Watch site
Vicki
15 years ago
I found it interesting to learn the variety of goldenrod I had. It was here when I moved into a badly neglected yard. I pulled it out the first year here but it came back the following year so I decided to let it grow and see what happened. I have it growing beside a fireworks goldenrod and between the two, the bloom season is extended. But, now I wonder if I should pull it out. It has not been invasive in my flowerbed but I do see little seedlings throughout my lawn that resembled it. Now I suspect that is what it is. I appreciate the info dbs_illinois_4.
remy_gw
15 years ago
Leaa,
I'm not sure if you needed to know that the foliage to the left of the goldenrods in the photo looks like asiatic lily foliage.
Remy
leaa
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks everyone for your replies. I will do more research on what my neighbor has as far as the "milkweed" goes. I did not realize there are other types. Hers I believe is quite tall and knowing my neighbor she put it their for the Monarchs.

I will remove the "Canadian Goldenrod" I also found it in my garden yesterday, don't believe it was their last year.

In the photo I have of the goldenrod, yes it does look like the asiatic lily, as that was what I thought it was about 3-4 weeks ago, then thought it was milkweed as it got taller, but it is all the same plants. They keep just getting taller and have what appear to be droopy looking flowerheads. I'm sure they will flower soon so I will have to pull them soon!
carol23_gw
15 years ago
Like esh, I think it was horseweed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Conyza

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