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Since there's been discussion about red milkweed, thought I'd share this photo of my purple milkweed in bloom. After this photo was taken a few weeks ago, six Monarch butterfly caterpillars used it as a host plant.
 Source: definingyourhome.blogspot.com via Freda on Pinterest Look for Monarch Caterpillars:  Source: definingyourhome.blogspot.com via Freda on Pinterest Hardy in zones 3-9, purple milkweed prefers a bit more moisture when planted in full sun (as in my garden). Though, in my garden, it is planted in a rather dry area, but the roots are shaded by neighboring perennials such as nepeta and agastache. Cameron |
Here is a link that might be useful: Purple milkweed
Follow-Up Postings:
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| My Asclepia tuberosa is a long way from blooming, but I discovered 3 cats munching away on the leaves last Saturday. Yesterday morning there was a still moist chrysalis forming on a nearby daylily leaf. I brought it in the house to protect it from harm till it ecloses. This is a good 6 weeks earlier that I have ever seen it happen. |
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- Posted by wonbyherwits z7b NC (My Page) on Wed, May 30, 12 at 11:24
| This is the earliest that I've had Monarch cats, too. I usually get them on the way back to Mexico in August/September. I hope this means the population will increase after years of decline. In 2010, I happened to get some photos of the metamorphosis of a chrysalis on a container grass. |
Here is a link that might be useful: watching a Monarch chrysalis in 2010
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- Posted by christie_sw_mo Z6 (My Page) on Wed, May 30, 12 at 14:45
| Beautiful photos! I sowed swamp milkweed, butterfly weed, and purple milkweed from seed this year and my purple milkweed is growing the slowest. I'm worried that something will eat them before they get a chance to take off. They're so tiny. I'm really looking forward to seeing them bloom after seeing your photos. |
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- Posted by echinaceamaniac 7 (My Page) on Wed, May 30, 12 at 14:50
| Cameron - Does that variety smell good? I saw some Asclepias syriaca in Maine and you could smell it in the car while driving. I have never seen another milkweed that smells so good. My parents have 20 acres of land and are wanting to grow a patch of it. |
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- Posted by wonbyherwits z7b NC (My Page) on Wed, May 30, 12 at 16:41
| My purple milkweed took about 2 years to bloom the first time. Don't give up on it. I have more trouble with incarnata surviving. The Monarchs go to purpurascens first, then the incarnata and finally the tuberosa. You know, I've not stuck my nose in the purple milkweed blooms because there's always a bee (or 10) on the blooms! I haven't noticed the fragrance hanging in the air, but my gardenia and jasmine are blooming right now...and bloom at this time every year, so I wouldn't notice if there was another fragrance. Maybe I'll go shoo the bees away so that I can answer your question! Cameron |
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| Someday I hope to find seeds for these, I think they are so pretty! Karen |
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- Posted by wonbyherwits z7b NC (My Page) on Thu, May 31, 12 at 8:27
| Everwilde online wildflower seed vendor carries many varieties of milkweed seeds, including this one. I bought mine in 2" pots from a local nursery. |
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- Posted by echinaceamaniac 7 (My Page) on Thu, May 31, 12 at 13:23
| I had some seeds of these. They are now soaking. I got mine from Prairie Moon. |
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| I haven't looked on Prairie Moon or Everwilde's websites in a while, but usually every time I look on either they are both out of purple milkweed seeds. So I just checked to see their availability, and I wasn't disappointed (er, rather yes), they were both out. Karen |
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- Posted by echinaceamaniac 7 (My Page) on Thu, May 31, 12 at 14:02
| I bet someone has some seeds to trade. I only had 6 seeds. These aren't as easy to grow as the other varieties. I am trying one more time. |
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