Milkweed seedlings3/29/2023 And because milkweed is a native plant that tolerates poor soils, fertilization isn’t necessary. Most species are not seriously bothered by heat, drought, deer or other pests. Like most wildflowers, milkweed is easy to grow and requires very little pampering. New sprouts will form from the cuttings when the weather warms and will often produce flowers the first year. Take the cuttings during the late fall or early spring when the plant is dormant and has more energy reserves. Many milkweed species can readily be grown from root or rhizome cuttings as well as by seed. Plant as many plants as you have room for,” recommends Kelly Ballard of Joyful Butterfly, a supplier of butterfly plants and seeds. “Monarchs are very good at finding a milkweed plant, but the more you have in your yard, the more likely they will find it and lay their little eggs all over it. To attract multitudes of monarchs to your garden, plant milkweed in groups of six or more, spacing plants or thinning seedlings to about 6 to 24 inches apart, depending on the species. As your plants begin to take off, thin out any plants that are spaced too closely together so they don’t compete for sun and soil nutrients. Keep the planting bed moist until the seedlings become established. After you’ve sown the seeds, compact them into the soil (but don’t cover them) to provide good soil-to-seed contact. To ensure successful germination of milkweed seeds, plant them in a smooth, clump-free soil bed worked to a fine consistency using a rake or rototiller. Swamp milkweed is an exception and requires moist, humus-rich soil. Most varieties are extremely forgiving and will grow well in average garden soil. The best soil type for milkweed often depends on its native habitat. If you purchase starter plants, plant them in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. If you’re planting milkweed from seed, sow the seeds outdoors in the fall, which will give them the period of stratification (exposure to cold, moist conditions) they need to encourage spring germination and ensure a good display of flowers the following summer. It's important to note that milkweed plants have a taproot and do not transplant well. A spot that’s protected from the wind will also help prevent the spread of seeds while providing a more hospitable environment for butterflies. Because they self-seed readily, locate your plants in a part of the garden where you can better control their rampant spread, such as at the back of the border or in a corner. Most milkweeds require full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours a day). To grow and sustain each generation, milkweed is the only food needed,” says Agrawal. “ flight is fueled by nectaring on the flowers and is punctuated by laying eggs on milkweeds. In turn, the toxic chemicals in the sap of milkweed plants make both the caterpillars and adult butterflies unappetizing to predators. The larvae feed on the leaves after hatching, but cause no permanent damage to the plant. Milkweed is both a food source and a host plant for monarch eggs that are laid on the underside of the leaves. Read more about the best perennials for pollinators. Height: 2 to 5 feet, depending on the species Zones: 3-9 Attracts: Besides monarchs, frequent visitors also include native bees, honey bees, hummingbirds, and many other types of butterflies. In the fall, these proficient self-sowers split open to release hundreds of seeds. Equally well designed are the large seed pods that develop from the fertilized flowers. Depending on the plant, milkweed flowers bloom in yellow, green, purple, pink, or orange. The petite, star-shaped flowers of milkweed are perfectly designed for pollination. Read more about it from the Xeres Society. Tropical milkweed ( Asclepias curassavica) is a non-native species that should be avoided, as it can cause harm to monarchs. Download this milkweed information sheet from Monarch Joint Venture for regional native recommendations. Swamp milkweed and butterfly weed are highly ornamental and available in a variety of cultivars. Three species of milkweed are good all-around choices for gardens in most regions of the country: More than 100 species of this herbaceous perennial are native to the U.S. Milkweeds ( Asclepias) get their name from the sticky white sap that oozes from the leaves when they are damaged.
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