Sales from this website are PayPal verified and backed by Network Solutions:
 |
I have been introducing different milkweed species to my gardens to see which grow best and to see which the monarchs like the best. If you click on the photo plates below, a window will open so you can see a larger view of each photo plate. This page is a work-in-progress; I will add more photos as I have the opportunity to take them. Most of them were taken in my gardens, some were taken of plants in the wild. For the time being, I am listing species that I have or hope to procure.
Special note: although milkweed has herbal uses, it is poisonous to humans in its raw form, so be careful when handling it.
Asclepias amplexicaulis
|
Indigenous to PA. I hope to eventually add this one to my collection. I have seen this one called sand milkweed, but the USDA site refers to A. arenaria as sand milkweed.
Asclepias curassavica
|
 |
I have read that this milkweed is like candy for monarchs. So far, I would concur with that. Although we did not keep records, last year most of the eggs were laid on the tropical milkweed we had. Tropical milkweed was introduced to the US and is indigenous to South and Central America. Photo 1 shows a plant growing in my garden that was taken as a cutting during the previous fall. Photo 2 shows a close-up of the buds and flowers of the standard red & yellow color. Photo 3 is Silky Red, which is a tad redder and darker than the standard color. Photo 4 is Silky Gold. I read one scientifc study (click on Latest Research and then study #2) that suggested the tropical milkweed properties are better at fighting the Oe parasite (see the Monarch Diseases and Parasites page for info on Oe) than the swamp milkweed. Slugs seem to prefer this type of milkweed over the others growing in my gardens.
Asclepias eriocarpa
|
 |
A seedling is shown.
Asclepias erosa
|
 |
A seedling is shown.
Asclepias exaltata
|
 |
This plant prefers morning sun and afternoon shade. Although a nice quiet background plant, this one is proving to be popular with the monarchs in my garden.
Asclepias fascicularis
|
 |
A seedling is shown.
Asclepias fruticosa
|
Originally from Africa. Similar seed pods to the goose plant (Asclepias physocarpa).
Asclepias hallii
|
 |
Asclepias hirtella
|
 |
A seedling is shown.
Asclepias incarnata
|
 |
Swamp seeds prefer to germinate in temperatures lower than 85°F. Photo 1 shows a new spring shoot. Photos 3 and 5 shows the buds of the typical pink color. Photo 4 is Ice Ballet. It does grow in part shade, but will not flower as prolifically and will not grow as tall as in full sun. According to the USDA site, this plant can be invasive. This is one of the species that I have been able to purchase locally.
Asclepias physocarpa
|
 |
Originally from South Africa. This plant can be invasive in tropical climates.
Asclepias purpurascens
|
 |
Likes morning sun and afternoon shade. A seedling is shown in the photo.
Asclepias quadrifolia
|
Native to PA. I will have to keep my eyes open while hiking in open woods for this one.
Asclepias rubra
|
Likes swamps along the coastal states. This has been declared extinct in PA.
Asclepias speciosa
|
 |
Sends out runners and can be invasive.
Asclepias speciosa ‘Davis’
|
 |
Photo 1 - a seedling. Photo 2 - an older plant. Photo 3 - close-up of the charming fuzzy leaves.
Asclepias sullivantii
|
 |
The squirrels and slugs left me with 1 prairie seedling, which I have whisked away to the safety of the greenhouse.
Asclepias syriaca
|
 |
The photos were taken at local parks. Photo 1 shows shoot sprouting from a mature plant in the spring. Can be invasive.
Asclepias tuberosa
|
 |
Lovely plant, but the smaller leaves will keep you busy looking for eggs and larvae if you are monitoring an area with this plant. I can usually buy butterfly milkweed locally. Photos 2, 3 and 6 show Hello Yellow. Photos 4 & 5 are orange, which is the typical color. *Note that the Gay Butterflies mix has various shades of orange, yellow and red.
Asclepias variegata
|
 |
Although it is known to reseed prolifically, it is on the PA endangered list. It does not like fertile soil, but prefers rocky wasteland type areas.
Asclepias verticillata
|
 |
Can be invasive. A seedling is shown.
Asclepias viridiflora
|
Native to PA.
Asclepias viridis
|
 |
A seedling is shown.
Apocynum: NOT Milkweed
Apocynum cannabinum
|
 |
Apocynum androsaemifolium
|
Apocynum sibiricum
|
Monarchs might take a bite, but it is poisonous to them (and humans and dogs) and if they continue to feed on it they will die. While it has the milky sap like milkweed, it is not milkweed! So, you need to be able to identify it if you are picking milkweed for your caterpillars. You do not want to pick this one! It is invasive and we see it all over the place at local parks and roadsides. In tropical climates, dogbane can become a small shrub or tree. Here in PA, it dies back to the ground for the winter. It starts as a single shoot (photo 1) and becomes bushy as it grows. In photo 2 you can compare the common milkweed (large leaves and a thick green stem with round flower clusters) on the bottom left to the dogbane in the background. Note that dogbane flowers are about the size of peas and bell-shaped. It can have green or red stems.
Milkweed Propagation
Milkweed is a perennial, meaning that its lifespan is several years, unlike annuals which bloom for a season and then die. While most are hardy perennials that will die in the fall and come back in the spring, a few of them are tender perennials that will need to be protected from frost and freezing temperatures if you wish to keep them for the next season. In the fall, I take cuttings and dig up plants of the tender perennials and let them grow in my basement under plant lights. I also collect seeds during the summer and fall. Some milkweed seeds need stratification (a few weeks in the cold), before they will germinate. I may eventually expand this section, however, for now, if you are looking for more info on propogation, please go to Monarch Watch. If you would like to see some videos, go to the Butterfly Encounters website.
 |
It may be helpful to know that milkweed is food for other critters: milkweed bugs (photo 1), baby slugs seem to love my tropical milkweed (photo 2), salt marsh moth caterpillars (photo 3), snails love the common milkweed at the park (photo 4), tussock moth caterpillars (photo 5), aphids (photo 6) and spider mites. You do not want to spray your milkweed with any pesticides, because they will also kill the monarchs. Removal by hand or hose spray is recommended. Slugs can be lured to a happy death if you place a plate of beer on the ground -- they will not mind if it is skunky beer. You can kill aphids by spraying them with a detergent mix (3 tablespoons of dish liquid to 1/2 gallon of water) and then hosing the mix off the plant. Before using a hose or detergent mix, make sure to remove your monarchs first. You can put them back after you are done. |
Milkweed Seeds and Plants for Sale
I have been able to find swamp, tropical and butterfly milkweeds locally. For the others I have had to go online. If the page does not land on milkweed, you will have to do a search for it on the site.
American Meadows A few milkweeds. I have ordered other plants from them.
Butterfly Encounters A great source for a variety of milkweed seeds. I have ordered from them.
Butterflybushes.com I have purchased milkweed plants from them. You may want to order early, as they usually sell out quickly.
Educational Science Seeds and plants for sale.
Live Monarchs seeds and tropical milkweed plants.
Milkweed Farm A variety of milkweed seeds for sale.
Monarch Watch Milkweed seeds.
Prairie Moon Variety of milkweed seeds and some plants by the flat.
Butterflies Etc. Tropical and giant milkweed.
Georgia Vines Tropical, swamp and a few other milkweed plants. Nice selection of seeds.
Shooting Star Nursery Common, swamp and whorled milkweed plants.
Ever Wilde Farm Inc. Several varieties of seeds for sale.
Milkweed Info Sites
Monarch Watch Info on propogation.
Monarch Watch Milkweed guide on the most common species.
Butterfly Encounters Videos on progation.
USDA Milkweed Guide lists 75+ of the over 100 milkweeds growing in the US. This site has photos and maps of which states the milkweeds are indigenous to.
Dave’s Garden great database on all sorts of plants including milkweeds. If you are looking to buy a certain plant, this may help you.
Texas Milkweed photos and info on milkweed native to Texas.
Georgia Milkweed Guide pdf document on milkweed native to Georgia.