Archive for the 'Flower' Category

Did you know that Monarch butterflies require milkweed plants as food and larval breeding grounds? Not just need, but require. Other plants/flowers will do as nectar sources, but Monarch butterflies are dependent on milkweed (plants in the Asclepias genus) to survive.

Photo by vladeb

Development, habitat destruction, and chemical herbicides and pesticides have significantly reduced the amount of Milkweed (and other plants) available to Monarchs, which has in turn, resulted in a decrease in the overall Monarch population. This decline has prompted a number of organizations to develop around the world in support of Monarchs and their habitat. Organizations like Monarch Watch and the Monarch Teacher Network have programs to encourage people to plant Asclepias species appropriate to their area.

The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) lists 136 entries for Asclepias (including plant synonyms) in the U.S. and Canada, about 85 of which are identified with a common name containing “milkweed”. Many of these have ranges that extend through much of the United States and Canada, but are listed as: Endangered, Exploitably Vulnerable, Special Concern, Threatened and other similar statuses.

Photo by tlindenbaum

A. incarnata (Swamp Milkweed), A. speciosa (Showy Milkweed), and A. tuberosa (Pleurisy Root) seem to be the most commonly sold Asclepias in the eastern U.S. A. incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) and A. tuberosa are easy to find as seeds – you can purchase them through my affiliate link for Botanical Interests Seeds on the right side of this page. If you Google A. speciosa and A. syriaca, you’ll find a number of retailers selling these seed.

Photo by Salim Virji

I’m growing A. tuberosa from seed this year. I didn’t have luck with the A. syriaca transplants I was given last year. I suspect that they didn’t like being disturbed (big tap root) and would have been happier to have been started from seed. I hope I can meet my Asclepias-growing neighbosr this year, and beg a seed pod or two. Maybe I’ll trade them some of my rampant Monarda!