COMMON MILKWEED, NATIVE MILKWEED
Asclepias syriaca
SKU: 271-10
Description
Milkweed is an essential perennial plant for the butterfly garden, and it is the ONLY plant that the monarch caterpillar can eat. The flowers also attracts many other butterflies! It is probably the most used plant 'food' (nectar) for pollinators. Our milkweed have monarch caterpillars on it almost every year. Look carefully under the leaves, which is where they are usually hiding. If they are present on your plant, they will often make their chrysalis there too, and you can watch them transform from caterpillar to butterfly! Monarch butterflies are in steady decline, and habitat destruction is at least partially to blame. This plant can assist the monarch in recovering.Watching the life cycle of monarchs can be an excellent learning experience for kids too!
We specialize in Pink Milkweed because it is the most preferred variety for Monarch Butterflies! The leaves are smooth, which makes it easier for the monarch butterflies to lay their eggs on, and easier for the caterpillars to move-about on. The hirsute 'hairy' leaves of some species make them less attractive. Common Milkweed is also one of the most hardy Milkweed, and can be grown in a large variety of locations, soil types, is drought resistant, and is very easy to grow!
The milkweed flowers attract MANY butterflies of all kinds (not just Monarchs)! The beautiful perfume of the flowers is fragrant for quite a distance away, which draws butterflies of all kinds to it's nectar!
Type: Hardy perennial
Height: 48"
Location: Sun or part sun
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Note: Ornamental use only. These seeds and/or plants are poisonous.
Germination: Start these seeds right away to preserve viability, no matter the time of year. Sow the seeds just under the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Then cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for 5-6 weeks. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to room temperature (20-22 °C, 68-72 °F) for them to germinate. Germination is generally within 60 days after the warming period, though they could take a few months. If possible, the best location for sowing in March, April and early May, is in a cold frame or cold greenhouse where they will receive the cold period and fluctuating temperatures naturally.
Description
Milkweed is an essential perennial plant for the butterfly garden, and it is the ONLY plant that the monarch caterpillar can eat. The flowers also attracts many other butterflies! It is probably the most used plant 'food' (nectar) for pollinators. Our milkweed have monarch caterpillars on it almost every year. Look carefully under the leaves, which is where they are usually hiding. If they are present on your plant, they will often make their chrysalis there too, and you can watch them transform from caterpillar to butterfly! Monarch butterflies are in steady decline, and habitat destruction is at least partially to blame. This plant can assist the monarch in recovering.Watching the life cycle of monarchs can be an excellent learning experience for kids too!
We specialize in Pink Milkweed because it is the most preferred variety for Monarch Butterflies! The leaves are smooth, which makes it easier for the monarch butterflies to lay their eggs on, and easier for the caterpillars to move-about on. The hirsute 'hairy' leaves of some species make them less attractive. Common Milkweed is also one of the most hardy Milkweed, and can be grown in a large variety of locations, soil types, is drought resistant, and is very easy to grow!
The milkweed flowers attract MANY butterflies of all kinds (not just Monarchs)! The beautiful perfume of the flowers is fragrant for quite a distance away, which draws butterflies of all kinds to it's nectar!
Type: Hardy perennial
Height: 48"
Location: Sun or part sun
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Note: Ornamental use only. These seeds and/or plants are poisonous.
Germination: Start these seeds right away to preserve viability, no matter the time of year. Sow the seeds just under the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Then cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for 5-6 weeks. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to room temperature (20-22 °C, 68-72 °F) for them to germinate. Germination is generally within 60 days after the warming period, though they could take a few months. If possible, the best location for sowing in March, April and early May, is in a cold frame or cold greenhouse where they will receive the cold period and fluctuating temperatures naturally.