Purple Milkweed - Asclepias purpurascens
Nevermore44 - 6a
4 years ago
It’s got a great intense color and the fact that it doesn't run like the common variety makes it a good garden plant. It’s 2.5’ tall at his point… though I’ve read it can get 3-4’…. Which would mean I would have to move it (meaning dig deep to get the roots) or make my bed larger to keep it from the edge. I am hoping it set some seed for me to I can propagate it next year.
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debbiecz3
4 years agodbarron
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoIt doesn't spread at a rate that should scare anyone. You usually wish it would bulk up more. In a moist environment, these are about five foot high, taken Saturday.
We found some monarch caterpillars on a few stems.
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Comments (1)i have ironweed sending you e-mail:)...See Moremilkweed plants or seeds
Comments (9)You can order Tropical Milkweed plants (asclepias curassavica) in bulk fairly cheap. It's an annual rather than perennial but Monarchs love it for laying eggs and it's very pretty. I can't recall the Monarch website that sells them cheap. Maybe someone else will know. I think they were less than a dollar apiece if you order a lot. Monarchs like Swamp Milkweed (asclepias incarnata). It's perennial, but that one might be difficult to keep watered in Colorado. They will use Butterfly Weed for laying eggs (asclepias tuberosa) but it's not their favorite. Very pretty though, easy to grow from seed, and perennial. Common Milkweed (asclepias syriaca) has large leaves but it's an aggressive spreader and might eventually be the only thing you have in your garden. There was a post recently about Purple Milkweed (asclepias purpurascens) which also has large leaves but supposedly not as aggressive as Common Milkweed. I'm giving that one a try this year. I would suggest ordering some Tropical Milkweed plants for this year and also starting some milkweed from seed that will be perennial. They're pretty easy to grow from seed. Winter Sowing works well for them (starting outdoors in covered vented containers) and it's inexpensive. Here is a link that might be useful: Winter Sowing Forum...See MorePurple Milkweed Seeds are available
Comments (22)I have the big white zinnias too. But the bees and butterflies seem to like the cosmos and salvias best. The bees go nuts for my white datura too. They are so funny. They'll be out there in the early evening before the flowers open buzzing all over the place. They'll force the blooms open enough that they can squeeze inside and then they get stuck. So then I'm out there deadheading and the flower buds are all buzzing angrily and I'm like "sorry guys, I'm not rescuing you. You should have been patient!" I was in the big park across the street this morning and I finally saw one lonely little milkweed. I have been scouring the field where there are normally a lot of them. It makes me really worried for the next generation of monarchs. I'm also worried about the birds. There are hardly any berries and seeds to get them through the winter. The hackberries and grapes are almost totally bare. I bought a couple of feeders and some seed last week for them. Haven't had a chance to put them up yet though. I've got to get all the houseplants inside and settled and then maybe I can work on that! Oh! Speaking of, I noticed that someone said monarchs will feed on Asclepias because it is related to the milkweeds. I was wondering if they would also like hoyas because they're also related. I have lots of them and they have been outside most of the time....See MoreReminder: Plant Milkweed for the endangered Monarch
Comments (25)Joe, I wintersowed some milkweed seed this year. It's up but still small, I have most of those other plants that are mentioned in this post. Don't forget to plant some Maypop for the Gulf Frits. Yes, I get them here in NE OK. They have had a program going at the botanical garden in Tulsa in past years. Not sure if that's still going on. Also I grew fennel last year and I had a lot of those Monarch caterpillars on it. With fennel, IF they leave you anything, you can use it in cooking or just enjoy the fragrance. But usually they strip the plant down to bare stems. They can be found in dill umbels, too....See MoreNevermore44 - 6a
4 years agoNevermore44 - 6a
4 years agoNevermore44 - 6a
4 years ago
GardenHo_MI_Z5
4 years ago
javiwa
4 years agoNevermore44 - 6a
4 years agojaviwa
4 years agojaviwa
4 years agoterrene
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
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