Reports from other Texas gardener's indicate that A. curassavica and A. physocarpus (Swan Milkweed; Family Jewels, Hairy Balls, etc,) are very popular milkweeds with the Monarchs. Both do exceptionally well here in Oklahoma as well. They are not hardy for us, but may be for you. At least you can collect the dried seedpods for planting next spring. There is another milkweed similar to A. physocarpus called A. fruticosa. It is similar in growth but is smaller in comparison to A. physocarpus, and I don't think, but don't know for sure, that it produces the same type of seedpods as A. physocarpus. In doing my search for photos of these plants, I came across Goodwin Creek Gardens, and they are offering plants of A. physocarpus for $3.00 each, on sale right now. They are in California, I believe, but I know MissSherry has ordered from them (not milkweeds, right?) but I think she has been pleased with the plants she has received from them. Mail order plants are usually very small, in 3" or so pots. However, the ones I have mentioned are very vigorous milkweeds and will grow quickly. That's a pretty good deal. There is always a risk when you order plants "sight unseen", but I am one who is willing to take the risk. But not everyone is, and that's okay. It is very possible you will find something locally. I attached a link to their site so you can look at a photo of the flower of A. physocarpa and if you click on the name "Asclepias physocarpa" you will get a photo of the seedpods. Susan Here is a link that might be useful: Goodwin Creek Gardens

Hi Everyone! I love chatting about this stuff. I can't believe I hadn't been on for so long. I checked the link and it isn't a syriaca. I had really looked around the field at the other tuberosas that were blooming and noted the size and shape of all the plants and it was identical in leaf size and hieght and width as the tuberosa. So I concluded it was a tuberosa that had a gene alteration...It was an intense violet, no white in it to make it pink or lavender. About germinating seed of most asclepias. I find that seeds that require stratification benefit from being wrapped in moist paper towels that have been soaked in a peroxide and water solution, then placed in the fridge for approximately two weeks. Lay the seed on top of the soil, sprinkle some milled spaghmum, and grow on a heat mat under lights. I have always had far more plants than i ever needed. I even had seeds germinating in the refridgerator! I wish I had saved all my seed. I collect so many that I have a cabinet full of jars with seeds. I inventoried in November and decided to compost most of them and start fresh. esh ga, I definitely want some variegata seeds!!! Do they need to be stratified? Here is my email: michael@ahead.org SHoot me and email and I'll give you my address. Do any of you want any abutilon 'voodoo' or 'megapotamicum' cuttings? or even the blue stachytarphetas? I made too many cuttings this year and I need to get them out so I can start seeds... Let me know and I'll send them your way! Michael

Hi, I'd love to set up a trade - first for 2015, getting excited for warmer weather! Unfortunately I don't have the top 3 you're asking for but maybe I can tempt you with the following (all would be plants, not seed): Cuphea - bat face (also have firecracker), Angelonia - Carita Purple, and creeping jenny. Also have other neat tropical annuals if you're interested in seeing it, I root new plants each year of a variety of these. Depending what has made it thru the winter, I can send variety names of delphinium, foxglove dalmatian series, salvias, rudbeckias, and heucheras. All of these are potted 1-3 year old plants. Check out my trade list too. I send nice well rooted plants in every trade! I'm interested in your seeds: Pepper - anaheim; Tomato -Amish Paste, A. Lincoln, Black Krim, Jaune Flamme, Pink Oxheart, Sweet Beverley, Indigo Rose, and Whippersnapper; Verbascum Southern Charm; Tiger lily mix; joe pye weed; Scabiosa Black Knight; Salvia Madeline and pratensis Meadow Sage. Look forward to hearing from you, Erin

I sprinkle when my coffee grounds bowl gets full. :) So, maybe once a week -- as long as there are visible grounds around the plants, that should be fine. Again, I'm presuming this works, but it doesn't hurt to try. And extra organic matter in the garden can only be a good thing. I tried starting swamp MW from seed two years running (someone kindly sent seeds a while back) -- despite doing the fridge method of cold stratification, they never sprouted til this year. I just plunked them into a few yogurt cups filled w/ potting media -- took far longer than I expected (4-6 weeks!), but I've got a few that are ~ 2" tall. Let's see how they do in our Texas heat -- we may break records next Monday. :/