I'm going to be growing variegata for the first time this year and from what I've read, it likes well drained soil and partial shade. It's native to dry, upland woods.

I have at least 30 of these plants growing in the edge of my woods and in a clearing, with more seedlings popping up each year. The most robust ones grow in rich soil on a well-drained hillside with about 4 hours midday sun, with dappled sunlight for the remainder of the day. I mailed hundreds of seeds in '07, mostly to folks on the Butterfly Forum. All these plants come from one root:

{{gwi:484809}}

Thanks for the info and photo. I love the look of these plants. You cannot buy seeds right now. I traded for some seeds but not one germinated. I found Seneca Hills had plants so I ordered one. I couldn't believe how difficult this plant was to acquire. It's one of the most beautiful, if not most beautiful, asclepias.

Dear ctnchpr,

Do you think you'll have any more seeds this year?

You mailed me some seeds, I think in 07.

Do you think you could send me more?

I love this plant and would be happy to trade.

Please email me at mpsmith7@gmail.com

We helped you identify it as A. variegata.

Matthew

I received seeds from ctnpchr in fall 2007. I winter-sowed them in both 2008 and 2009. Only 1 seed sprouted in Spring 2008. I sowed a lot more but there was no germination this Spring at all. I shared seeds with at least a dozen other GWers in seed trades or SASBE's, mostly in the winter of 2008. Don't know who got germination last year, but nobody got germination this year that I know of.

Meanwhile, my one plant came back this year and was growing nicely. However, with weeks of cool, cloudy, and wet weather recently, the slugs are going nuts and the plant has been eaten to a stick!

It seems possible that the seeds lose viability quickly, and it is a difficult plant to germinate. I'm thinking about moving it to a drier and more gravelly spot, along with the Asclepias purpurascens, which is also getting eaten by slugs, but not as badly.

I am needing milkweed for shady places. Do you have any seeds this year? Most milkweeds need cold, moist stratification. Butterfly Encounters has good instructions.

Dear ctnchpr,
I have been looking for Asclepius variegata seeds for a long time. I could not believe my luck when I saw your posting. Do you think you will have seeds to spare in the fall? I would be very grateful if you could send me some. If you think you will have some seeds to spare I will send you a self addressed stamped envelope. Please e-mail me your response to sunnymicrobe@msn.com Thank you very much.

Dear ctnchpr,

Do you have Asclepias Variegata seeds right now? I am sending you an e-mail.

ctnchpr does not have an e-mail. For those who may want Asclepias Variegata seeds from ctnchpr I will make a thread for ctnchpr.

I am working on a project with the NC Native Plant Society and need seed of this species. I tried to contact ctnchpr but am unable to via this site. If anyone has seed or seedlings of this species please contact me at wildflowerman_2000@yahoo.com. Thanks, Mark