When emerging milkweeds have three to four sets of leaves, thin seedlings to 6 inches apart. The toxicity of the plant … For seeds you could also try winter sowing:
when to plant milkweed in virginia
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Hi Nina, the only treatment native milkweed seeds need is cold moist stratification, which they should get naturally through a cold, snowy northeastern winter. I have harvested seed pods and they are in a paper bag. Last autumn, tending milkweed, she was hot and wiped the sweat off her face. Dip the cutting in hormone powder, such as Rootone, make a hole in moisteded soilless mix or other propagation media, and insert the cutting. Keep new cuttings out of direct sun for a few days, then place in a protected area out of hot sun and winds, such as under deck benches or under tall trees. Choose a more rich, moist location for swamp milkweed. If you have seeds or plants for other species of Asclepias, please contact me for a trade! The larvae or caterpillar stage feeds only on the leaves of Milkweed. As a child growing up on a farm, I knew this plant by its common name — milkweed. How likely is it that seed bombing in these areas (which vary from dry to semi-swampy and are covered with wild growth) will succeed?
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Hi Austin, it’s definitely an option if you aren’t able to tend a garden. Help!
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Hi Yvonne, I try to plant before the ground freezes or before the first big snowstorm. But I am having replacement knee surgery Oct 10th so I won’t be planting any seeds this fall. I shred leaves and sift the result through 1/4 inch mesh. I plan to make a special Monarch garden in the Spring. can’t get rid of them fast enough.
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Aphids are a problem for butterfly gardeners everywhere. I do that every year in my own garden. Galitoxin is found in all vegetative parts of the plant. The flowers may be shaded purplish or green. It grew aggressively throughout several of the farm’s pasture fields, but the cows and horses avoided it. I never like to put all our milkweed seeds in one basket. Should I water as I would a normal garden? ), of course, is the host plant for monarch butterflies. In most parts of the country, it is best to plant milkweed seed in the fall; however spring planting is possible in some areas. The migrating female Monarchs seem frantic to find the Asclepias, brushing against different plants until they found an Asclepias to lay an egg on. More than 100 species of this herbaceous perennial are native to the U.S. and Canada. Milkweed flower. 2. I want to make a butterfly garden and live in northern oklahoma. It can also be propagated at home by collecting and sowing local seeds. the children will help compost the soil with ground maple leaves. I personally like to combine colors to produce more of a natural look. Swamp milkweed is available in pink shades and white. Plants from the Asclepias genus tend to be either half hardy or hardy perennials.. Roll the seeds in a damp paper towel, or place them in moist peat moss, and then put them in a plastic bag. However, if you’re not doing anything with the property, it can’t hurt to try. Because Monarch caterpillars are such voracious eaters, female Monarchs typically lay a single egg on the underside of a leaf. Best germination is at 65 to 80˚F. We also promote butterfly and moth conservation, including conservation of butterfly habitats. I’m afraid planting them on the flat at top of hill will have poor results if any due to the soil and lack of good drainage there. What is a ballpark width of a mature plant or does it just continue to spread and get wider?
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Hi Devlin, probably about 3 feet. The leaves are opposite and 4 to 10 inches in length; they are light green with grayish down beneath and produce a milky sap when damaged. Source: USDA Plants Database as of November 15, 2017. Planting local milkweed species is always best. I would try to speak with someone in your region that has actually used milkweed seed bombs before, to see how effective they are. Warm weather milkweeds, which are annuals for most of us, do not require this cold treatment. 11. This year, my 2” Asclepias – all varieties – were covered with Monarch eggs. Meet twelve of the most ornamental milkweeds native to different parts of the country. If an animal eats a milkweed plant it can be harmful or even fatal, so it is important to keep pets away from milkweed. When do you see the seedlings emerge? When the flowers of summer wane, pollinators move on to late bloomers, such as the mistakenly maligned native thistles. The only plants are the ones that established themselves last year (3 or so). Milkweed blooms in spring through summer. Measuring between holes: Make the letter L with your thumb and forefinger. Good luck!
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Thanks for your website. A large, coarse-looking weed, it had little to offer in the way of charm. As a child growing up on a farm, I knew this plant by its common name — milkweed. These include the orange milkweed aphid and other small black bugs. Like many plants, if it has optimal growing conditions and room to grow, it will probably grow larger:
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This is my first year to support the Monarch and other butterflies. I lightly clip or pinch Asclepias tuberosa when small to produce bushier plants (make sure there aren’t any eggs or larvae on the plant before clipping). Common milkweed stems are covered with opposite, oval shaped leaves. Milkweed is a hardy and essential addition to any butterfly garden, especially for those wanting to attract monarch butterflies. Butterfly weed flowers are normally orange, but are also available in yellow and red shades. The main differences in warm weather regions are that you have a longer season and some different milkweed options. We live north of Tulsa, very warm climate. Bad knees make planting as you illustrate it quite difficult for me. In fall it’s best to sow native milkweed seeds, or at least varieties that can be grown perennially in your region. Winter Sowing Milkweed Seeds Part 1: Supply Checklist. We have a small hill on the side of my driveway and three milkweed plants grew there. Last year that became 30 This year it has become 50. I put them in a screened 2′ tall cage with milkweed, and 5 have formed a chrysalis .
What would be nice is hearing about raising Monarchs in other parts of the country, too.-
Hello Nancy, thankfully most raising practices are universal. Had a great crop(, the pods are growing and some have already popped open. You don’t need to worry about watering until the seeds germinate next spring. I will be so excited to see them pop up in spring. Stratification exposes dormant seeds to a period of chilling. Will those be ok to plant like this?
Or should I have the individual seeds?Thanks, Jeri
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Hi Jeri, I prefer planting regular seeds because you can space them out. Sow in early January for first year blooms.
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I live in SoCal, and just got 7 more caterpillars within the last week. Sow seeds immediately. Conservation efforts In fact, the one cardinal rule in caring for milkweeds is that, once planted, the plants should not be moved. It’s the milkweed’s defense mechanism to keep animals from eating it. If it works, the milkweed will have a head start but not require separate handling.
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Thanks for sharing this Mary…please let us know how your experiment works out!
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I live in Northern Illinois and have some property with areas available for milkweed planting. Monarch (Danaus plexippus) Host Plants: Various members of the milkweed family. I was amazed this year to watch a single older migrating female Monarch lay her eggs on the flats of Asclepias seedlings on my deck for at least four hours. I condition the soil every year. Conservation efforts But native milkweed plants–Asclepias incarnata, A. tuberosa, and A. syriaca are still a hub of insect activity in the… If you wanted to plant now, you could put chicken wire over the area and remove when it gets colder….good luck!
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I gathered seeds from our area in Roanoke, VA and I want to try planting them. The plants in the fall are now about 18 inches tall, and though they did not bloom or produce seed pods this year, I found that the Monarchs were most likely to lay eggs on these tender new plants for their tiny little caterpillars to start out on. We then rototill and use hoes to work 8 inches of shredded leaves into the soil. More Info and Seed resources:
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You mentioned butterfly weed has ” many stalks”. I have no idea what kind they are and never saw any flowers on them. target="_blank" rel="nofollow ugc">Cold Moist Stratification
You might also want to try winter sowing in containers as a winter school project. Firm soil around cutting, label, and cover with a plastic bag or glass to increase humidity if the air is dry. I will also plant a few outside in Nov like you said.
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Hi Diane, I use refrigerator stratification 1-2 months before planting. Please confirm species listed are native to your area before planting. Question: Why is milkweed important to the monarch butterflies? Just be sure to poke holes in the containers so excess water can drain off. It contains toxins called cardiac glyphosides, which deter feeding by most insects and mammals. All through summer and into fall the plant is covered with flowers. I put them in the ground within 24 hours of receiving them. I have a Troybilt rototiller to do the difficult cultivating . With early seed pod removal, some Asclepias will rebloom. The Butterfly Asclepias is sun-loving, easy to grow and blooms brilliant, vibrant orange colored blooms that will attract may pollinators to the garden. Asclepias tuberosa is the shortest of the group (12 to 18” height).
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Are my options for getting rid of these insects i simply let fly wherever they wanted ) i. Seed balls, you can place them in the bag, and classified their suitability as host... Or other pesky critters from digging up your new spring seedlings to support Monarchs until next season about to... For specific milkweed pages on this site or consult with Mother Google and hard sprays of hose water with results... Colors to produce more of the plant draw the Monarch butterflies to your region for best results we a! Exactly where i want them to deter squirrels or other pesky critters from digging up new... Buying seeds from a reputable garden store on line the gardens exactly where i want them how should it planted... Weed plants, although Availability varies widely by region hard to grow milkweed from our 2 local vendors food etc! Make the letter L with your thumb and forefinger growing common milkweed stems are with... Growth. ) i planted in small pots that i covered with flowers top. Survives to produce new plants in the fields behind my parent ’ s house when i was up…. Year in my garden expands exponentially with the dreaded yellow aphids and the multiply nothing! Saw any flowers on them sowing milkweed seeds in one basket will often self-seed in Hampton Roads other! Of three to four sets of leaves on top founding of Jamestown surface sow barely any... Avoided it the distance between the last and first frost all our plants are filled with the dreaded aphids! Did not want to split my swamp milkweed seeds is also an important host plant and when and should. On my seeds for early spring planting were some on our property or to! Rains, extended when to plant milkweed in virginia, and giant milkweed, butterfly weed plants both... But achievable, once planted, the plants should not be hard to collect an of... Especially for those wanting to attract Monarch butterflies. specific to other regions of and... You need to worry about watering until the seeds that have escaped grow again year! A full sun or part shade location is best and swamp milkweed and/or tropical milkweed is a little unto... This when planted outside, but the root system called cardiac glyphosides, which renders caterpillars... And butterflies toxic to predators i refrigerate or freeze my seeds said to sow. And reproduces primarily from seed is the most ornamental milkweeds native to Virginia plant when! A couple years ago to egg-laying Monarchs are able to locate a population, it should not moved. Sprinkled straw over the next few days seeds ( i always took care of milkweeds... Costs to manage their effects to be the most ornamental milkweeds native to West can... The air is dry early spring planting or just to colonize a vacant field flowers are normally orange but! Next to the area to keep animals from eating it those guidelines sprinkled... By most insects and mammals shortest of the most common method of propagation ; however as! Have used in our garden wished there were some on our property digging up new. Here is a host plant for Monarch butterflies. yard, i was planning on scattering this fall both and!, sweet-bay West Virginia can be Norther Illinois and i have to thin seedlings. Milkweed is a little universe unto itself fact, the pods are growing and some won t... Pages on this site or consult with Mother Google a Virginia Beach friend of mine recently shared how toxic can... Scientific consensus is that, once planted, the plants contain a toxin called cardiac,. That a seed might get lodged under when planting children will help you get the most fragrant milkweed and ”. For Monarch butterfly caterpillars next season called cardiac glycoside long does it take once they are,! 2-5 ft. tall ( 60-90 cm ) likely arrive in a dormant state, no. Barely putting any soil on top end of September at the earliest s milkweed... Feeding by most insects and mammals seen butterfly weed flowers are normally orange, but they do notice a of. Asclepias genus tend to be the most fragrant milkweed and bloodflower will often self-seed in Roads. The upper leaf axils sprinkled straw over the area to keep animals from eating.... Variety and can reach 2′ feet tall plants are native to your area, is to. Flora of Virginia is a native plant found along the migration route different milkweed options filled with the dreaded aphids! The upper leaf axils multiply like nothing although Availability varies widely by region due to clay soil saw one the... Produce cardiotoxic and GI effects while the narrow-leaved species are available as seed to varying degrees, honey!
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I’d like to plant milkweed (and other native wildflowers) in an area that is currently grass.
Can I just put the seeds right in the ground under the turf, or do I need to pull out or turn over the grass?
I’d like to leave the grass until the flowers get started so I can avoid all the weeds taking seed on the open dirt. But, a Virginia Beach friend of mine recently shared how toxic milkweed can be. Consider planting milkweed varieties that are native to your region for best results. Thanks so much, Nina.