Growing Calotropis procera from seed
Since we had a lot of discussion on the Calotropis procera and Calotropis gigantea milkweed last season and since so little information for growing in home gardens in the US is available, I thought I'd write up a history of my first year growing experience with Calotropis procera from seed.
below: seedlings on Jan 7, 2016 under grow lights
below: young plants on Jan 26, 2016 under grow lights (they grow fast). I keep grow lights on 22 hours per day, with a rest of 4 hrs., using four tubes of 2 different color spectrum's in fixture and plants are always grown very close to the lights.
below: Jun 6, 2016 Calotropis procera blooms on one of these young plants, no seed pods ever formed (I never noticed insect activity on these flowers)
below: Oct 26, 2016 trimmed stub of a mature 10 month old plant grown all summer in a pot; trimmed in preparation for overwintering in small greenhouse
below, close up of base of this plant, showing the new grow erupting along the trimmed stalk/truck of plant ... I'd guess the length of the stub was maybe 8-10 inches. I didn't think to measure at the time. This same plant is in the greenhouse now, with a lot of new growth on it, which tells me these plants can be safely trimmed in order to increase density of the plant. Throughout the summer, growing in this small pot, it remained as a single stemmed plant, never developing side branches and with lower leaves eventually falling off as new growth was produced at the top. This might have been due to being grown in a small pot or perhaps because of neglect during my absence from home for several weeks during the growing season. Note the slight violet coloring in the new leaf growth. I wonder if this slight coloration is indicative of the color of the blooms?
and finally, below is a photo of two sections of the trimmed stem from this plant, stuck into an old pot to see if they would root. They did, as you can see from the new growth beginning at the leaf nodes on each stem. Also, notice the deep ridges at the base on the 10 month old plant stalk above. This variety of giant milkweed, Calotropis procera, develops more of a bark like surface with deep ridges forming on the oldest part of the plant trunk (unlike the stalk surface of the Calotropis
gigantea, which maintains a smoother surface, even at the oldest part of the trunk near the soil surface).
Ultimately, the rooted stem on the right died while overwintering in the greenhouse, no doubt due to the growing medium being kept too moist. These plants don't like a lot of water. If kept too moist, leaves will turn yellow and fall off and eventually, the entire plant could rot at the base and die.
I am a home gardener and this has been my first year growing experience with this 'new to me' milkweed plant.
Because of the kindness of a fellow gardener, I also had the pleasure to grow the other variety of what is commonly called 'giant milkweed' by many gardeners, Calotropis
gigantea. There are slight differences in plant looks and growth structure, leaf surface texture and shape of the blooms but both will feed monarch cats.
In my very limited experience, the monarchs seem to prefer other milkweed, if available, for egg laying but at least one Monarch mama did leave some eggs on both varieties of this milkweed and monarch cats were successfully raised on leaves from both of these large milkweed plants. I was away from my garden for much of last season and only a few tropical mw (Asclepias curassavica) and these large milkweed plants were still producing decent leaf growth during the fall Monarch migration.
I fed the baby cats this past fall with tropical leaf material until they were bigger, then switched them to leaf material from these milkweed plants. The cats eclosed as healthy butterflies and were sent on their way. I like to think some of their grand babies might drop by for a visit this spring! :-)
Mary
Comments (16)
Iris S (SC, Zone 7b)
7 years ago
Jeannies_Garden (Tx 9a)
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Starting Swan Milkweed & Calotropis MW seeds
Comments (9)I sure hope things start looking better soon down here. A few milkweeds planted in the ground in the yard have shown a few leaves. And I have some in potted plants that are okay. But on my property, no milkweeds growing so far. Wildflowers for nectar outside the yard? One flower open now on the front slope. I feel bad for the butterflies. We need rain bad. Too dry again. At least the Carolina Jessamine in the back yard is blooming a bit. A few small plants that I recently bought also, plus my rue...thank goodness for rue blooms! A few GFs around, sulfurs, even an occasional snout butterfly. The Red Admiral have mostly moved on....See MoreCheap Alluaudia procera at HD. But will it grow here (Bay Area)?
Comments (5)Mark, Put in in the sunniest, warmest spot in your yard, with good drainage, and let 'er rip. Of course, you can keep it in a pot there and put it somewhere warmer in the winter until it reaches a largish size, as more mature plants are hardier than young ones. This is a great plant (heck, all of the genus is, along with the related and more tender Didieria) and towers of it are a striking sight to behold, as turtle shows. Thanks for showing that plant, btw - I've enjoyed many times in person. This post was edited by cactusmcharris on Tue, Jul 1, 14 at 11:20...See MoreWANTED: Calotropis gigantea giant milkweed
Comments (1)I would like to know how to propagate Giant Milkweed. I have the Gigantea viariety which DOES NOT produce seeds nor is fragrant compared to the Calantropis procera. The gigantea is the one that is velvety, with felt like leaves instead of the green leaves of the Procera. I researched for propagation for a long time but the information about the Procera and the Gigantea are mixed up. When looking up the propagation, they talk about the seeds of the Procera that the Gigantea does not have. Has anybody had success with cuttings and if yes how was it done? Thank You very much. Nathalie...See MoreGiant Milkweed (Calotropis Procera)
Comments (50)sorie6: yes, that's the plant alright, and the place my last year's seeds came from. She sent me 11; all germinated within 5-6 days. No cold stratification needed. With the advent of consistent warm weather, my C. procera grew at a remarkable rate. Give it a fast draining soil, letting it dry out a little bit in between waterings. Mine were growing great until the weather turned wet and cold (didn't get below 32°), when the stems died down. I thought I lost them, but on closer inspection I can see basal sprouts emerging just above the soil line in the hardened wood. All of the herbaceous sections of the plants withered in the cold. I'd just buy some seeds from SmartSeed and start them soon. They grow extremely fast, one of mine producing flowers within 4-6 months upon germinating. If I get any viable seed from them later in the season, I'll surly offer some here....See MoreMary Leek
7 years agoJeannies_Garden (Tx 9a)
7 years agoMary Leek
7 years agoMary Leek
7 years agoJeannies_Garden (Tx 9a), How are your seedlings doing? Will you be able to grow your new milkweed plants outside year round in your area?
Discovered this morning the Calotropis Gigantea I overwintered in my small gh is setting flower buds. Took most of the plants out of the greenhouse this weekend and gave them baths and a good pot flush. Noticed the little flower buds in the top of this plant while giving everybody a once over this morning.
So happy spring is here.
Mary
Jeannies_Garden (Tx 9a)
7 years ago
scfl4766
6 years ago
Cassandra Stierheim
3 years agonickcats
3 years agoMary Leek
3 years agonickcats
3 years agoMary Leek
3 years agonickcats
3 years ago
Mary LeekOriginal Author