Where can you buy milkweed?
You can purchase milkweed seeds and plants at the following places: Xerces.org has a milkweed seed finder. Michigan Native Plant Producers. Monarch Watch's Milkweed Market.
When do you plant milkweed?
You can plant them closer and then thin the plants as they grow in, or, plant Swamp Milkweed and its cultivars between 30” and 36” apart. Planting Time: Milkweed plants can be planted in spring or fall. In spring, your milkweed plants will likely arrive in a dormant state, with no green leaves above the soil line.
How do you take care of milkweed in the winter?
Swamp Milkweed Care
- Light. Full sun is best, but plants will tolerate part shade.
- Soil. While common milkweed is able to grow in average well-drained soil, swamp milkweed thrives in moist, medium to wet clay soil.
- Water. Keep this plant moist. If given a proper wetland environment, the swamp milkweed will likely not need watering throughout the growing season.
Does milkweed grow in California?
Where does milkweed grow in California? Showy milkweed is native to much of the western half of North America. In California it is found in the Sierras and Coast Ranges, from Tulare County to Modoc and Siskiyou Counties. This flowering plant is a hairy, erect perennial that grows to about 4 feet tall. Click to see full answer.
What milkweed plants are native to California?
Two of these species, showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) and narrow-leaved milkweed (A. fascicularis), are widely available from plant suppliers. Some other species, including woollypod milkweed (A. eriocarpa) and heartleaf milkweed (A.
Is butterfly milkweed native to California?
So in the simplest terms, butterfly experts say California native milkweeds, with their pink, white and cream-colored flowers are the only milkweeds we should be planting in Southern California, because they typically go dormant around December (meaning the tops of the plants die back but the roots stay alive), and ...
Is there milkweed in California?
628 NE Broadway, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97232 │ 503-232 6639 │ www.xerces.org The Xerces Society is an equal opportunity employer. Fifteen species of milkweed are native to California.
Where is the milkweed native to?
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Common Milkweed is a native perennial of the eastern United States and southern Canada, though it is found most commonly in the northeast and the midwest. It can be found in upland fields, woodland margins and disturbed areas such as roadsides (Wilburg, 1979).
Where should you not plant milkweed?
It is not recommended to plant milkweed within 10 miles of the coast in central and northern California where milkweed did not occur historically. Instead, plant a variety of flowers native to your region that provide nectar from early spring through fall to support monarchs and other pollinators.
Which milkweed is invasive?
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is the source of the plant's bad reputation—it's quite invasive.
Which milkweed is best for monarchs in California?
Narrow Leaf MilkweedIn inland Southern California, Narrow Leaf Milkweed is the Monarch's native host plant, and its flowers also provide nectar. It is a perennial that grows 3-4 ft. high and forms colonies. It grows best in full sun to part shade and is a low to moderate water user.
When should I plant milkweed in California?
Growing Instructions: Start California Milkweed seeds outdoors in late November. Pick a location with full sun and prepare soil for good drainage, if needed. Plant seeds 1/8" deep and 18” apart, using 3 seeds per hole. Water once, and then allow the winter rain and/or snow to provide moisture until the spring.
Is milkweed poisonous to dogs?
The Pet Poison Helpline reports that milkweed is a moderate to severe poisoning in dogs and cats, which means get to the vet as soon as you suspect your pet has ingested the plant, or even butterflies or caterpillars that eat milkweed. Buddy's symptoms were typical for poisoning, but other signs include: Drooling.
Why is milkweed a problem?
Milkweed hosts a protozoan parasite called Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE). As caterpillars, monarchs ingest the parasite along with their normal milkweed meals, and when they hatch from their chrysalises they are covered in spores. "It's a debilitating parasite," Satterfield says.
Is milkweed invasive plant?
The common milkweed is very aggressive and invasive and take over your butterfly garden very quickly. Luckily, there are several non-invasive alternatives that serve butterflies and pollinators. The key is to match the milkweed plant to your garden's conditions.
Is milkweed good for anything?
Although potentially poisonous, the plant has been used for medicinal purposes as well. Many indigenous tribes applied milkweed sap for wart removal and chewed its roots to treat dysentery. It was also used in salves and infusions to treat swelling, rashes, coughs, fevers and asthma.
Which milkweed is best for monarchs in California?
Narrow Leaf MilkweedIn inland Southern California, Narrow Leaf Milkweed is the Monarch's native host plant, and its flowers also provide nectar. It is a perennial that grows 3-4 ft. high and forms colonies. It grows best in full sun to part shade and is a low to moderate water user.
What milkweed is native to the Bay Area?
Asclepias fascicularis (Narrow Leaf Milkweed) and Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed) grow well in virtually all of the Bay Area, in sun to part-shade conditions. Both spread by seed and root, so that your garden will continue to develop a bountiful assortment of the plant over the years.
What milkweed is native to San Diego?
The five main San Diego native milkweeds are narrow leaf milkweed, Indian milkweed, California milkweed, rush milkweed and desert milkweed. San Diego native plant nurseries sell them, or you can grow natives from seeds purchased online or locally.
What is the best milkweed for monarch butterflies?
Female monarchs will lay eggs on all nine milkweed species, but they prefer some over others. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and common milkweed (A. syriaca) averaged the highest number of eggs.
When does milkweed start growing?
They usually have three types of native milkweed beginning around March. Call ahead to confirm species, quantity and verify plants have not been in contact with neonicotinoids or pesticides.
Where are monarchs and milkweed collected?
If you live in the greater Los Angeles area then please consider participating in the Monarchs and Milkweed of Los Angeles project. Data there is collected by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Their website address is linked for your convience. http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/monarchs-and-milkweed-of-los-angeles
Where do we grow native plants?
We grow primarily California native plants. Also plants from the southwest and irises too.
Where does milkweed grow?
Broadleaf Milkweed (Asclepias latifolia) is a native shrub that grows in central California.
Where is Showy Milkweed native to?
Asclepias speciosa. Add to plant list. Added. Showy milkweed is native to much of the western half of North America. In California it is found in the Sierras and Coast Ranges, from Tulare County to Modoc and Siskiyou Counties. This flowering plant is a hairy, erect perennial that grows to about 4 feet tall.
What is the name of the milkweed that loses its leaves?
Added. Asclepias subulata is a species of milkweed known commonly as the rush milkweed or ajamete. This is an erect perennial herb which loses its leaves early in the season and stands as a cluster of naked stalks. Atop the stems are flower clusters of distinctive flowers.
What is a Mexican milkweed?
Narrowleaf milkweed or Mexican whorled milkweed is a flowering perennial sending up many thin, erect stems and bearing distinctive long pointed leaves which are very narrow and often whorled about the stem, giving the plant its common names. It blooms in clusters of lavender or lavender-tinted white flowers which have five reflexed lobes that extend down away from the blossom. The fruits are smooth milkweed pods which split open to spill seeds along with plentiful silky hairs. This plant is comm...
What is a rambling milkweed?
Sarcostemma hirtellum (Funastrum hirtellum) (rambling milkweed, hairy milkweed), is a perennial, vine-like plant of mid- to lower-elevation desert regions. It is a member of the Asclepiadaceae family, and the Sarcostemma genus, the climbing milkweeds.
Where does Asclepias cordifolia grow?
It is native to the western United States (California, Nevada, Oregon), growing between 50-2000 meter elevation in the northern Sierra and Cascade ranges. Heart-leaf milkweed was valued by the Native American Miwok for its stems, which they dried and processed into cordage (string and rope). Monarch butterfly ...
Where is Asclepias eriocarpa native to?
It is native to California and adjacent parts of Nevada and Baja California, where it grows in many habitat types, especially dry areas. In California it is found primarily in the Coast Ranges from Mendocino County southward into Mexico, ...
How many frequently asked questions about milkweeds?
A set of 18 frequently asked questions about milkweeds and the answers to them.
What is the role of milkweed in monarch butterflies?
Milkweeds ( Asclepias spp.) are the required host plants for caterpillars of the monarch butterfly and thus play a critical role in the monarch’s life cycle. The loss of milkweed plants in the monarch’s spring and summer breeding areas across the United States is believed to be a significant factor contributing to the reduced number ...
Do milkweeds pollinate bees?
In addition to monarchs, native milkweeds support a wide diversity of pollinators, including bumble bees. (Photo: Xerces Society / Sarah Foltz Jordan) To help offset the loss of monarch breeding habitat, the North American Monarch Conservation Plan (published in 2008 by the tri-national Commission for Environmental Cooperation) ...
What is the color of milkweed in California?
There are several California native milkweeds, which are the ones we should be planting. All of these seem to have pink, pinkish, or white flowers. For Los Angeles and Southern California, consider the following.
Why do people focus on milkweed?
People focus on milkweed because it is the larval food plant — the plant where the monarchs lay their eggs, the plant the baby caterpillars eat as they grow and prepare to go into their chrysalis. But the adult monarchs need nectar plants.
How do you tell what kind of milkweed you have?
From my review of California Native plant websites and Xerces Society information sheets, I’ve come up with an extremely simple formula. For our area:
What is the name of the plant with white flowers and narrow leaves?
Asclepias fascicularis – white flowers and narrow leaves. aka Narrow-leaved milkweed. Asclepias vestita – creamy flowers and broad leaves. aka Wooly milkweed. According to the Xerces Society, L.A. is at the southern tip of the range for this plant. If you live in Orange County,Riverside, San Diego, etc.
Where is Calflora native to?
CalFlora shows its native range as the southeastern portion of California. Remember that monarchs are more likely to be attracted to your milkweed patch if you plant a clump of milkweeds together in a grouping, rather than a single milkweed plant.
Can you grow milkweed in a container?
You could also grow some milkweed plants in large containers. My friend in Santa Monica grows lovely native milkweed plants in containers that are perhaps 24″ diameter x 24″ high. Watch for seed development, and save their seeds. Give the seeds to friends, guerrilla garden them, or package them up and drop them in Little Free Libraries around your local area!
Can you grow milkweed from seeds?
It takes time and effort to grow milkweed from seeds. And raising seeds is something you can do inside an apartment! You could get some seeds of California native milkweeds, grow them into transplant size, and gift them to friends who have garden space, or gift them to schools and community gardens.
