In addition to being a monarch butterfly attractive feature , milkweed supports many other pollinator and is well-heeled to rise .
Just about every shoal child memorise about milkweed because this industrial plant isessential food for thought for monarch butterfly caterpillars . There are really several type of milkweeds ( Asclepiasspp . ) , all of which are native to North America . Most also make beautiful , low - maintenance addition to gardens and landscapes where they ’ll attract mountain of different pollinators with their flowers .
Milky Sap for Defense
Milkweed plants have developed a mates of riveting defense mechanism to keep predators away . The main source of the defence is also what gives the plant its common name — the milky white latex sap . The sticky sap and all parts of the flora hold in gamey levels of a chemical compound toxic to all vertebrates . Monarch butterfly stroke larvae have the power to stack away this lethal compound in their body , clear them toxic to craniate as well . This is what gives monarchs their characteristic bad taste that keep predators forth .
The second defense these plants have is the sticky characteristic of the sap itself . Milkweed plant life keep their sap under high pressure , so that when they are damaged or bit into , it chop-chop gush out . In some typesetter’s case , such as when the predator may be a very humble caterpillar ( including unwary monarch larvae ) , this mucilaginous liquid can trap and even drown the insect . The sap also can gum up the chewing mouthparts of insects , preventing them from eating more .
Milkweed Care Tips
milkweed are bad and need very little aid . These plant are typicallynative to grassland prairies , where plants vie for scarce resourcefulness . This has made milkweed plants problematic competition — they can flourish in poor soils , low pee consideration , and harsh Lord’s Day .
Light
Milkweeds are generally not broad of shade conditions , so give themas much sun as you may . Full sun is idealistic , but milkweeds will grow in a little shade too .
Soil and Water
With the exception of a few specie of milkweed that are adapted to swampy conditions , this plant is super drought - large-minded as long as it haswell - run out soil . It is also crucial to note that milkweed are very dense to come up in the spring , so take down where plants are to forbid damaging the tender new growth .
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is generally never require for silkweed . Adding a layer of compostin the spring will both supply all the nutrient involve and facilitate keep weeds down .
The fluffy vulcanized fiber bring on on milkweed seed that acts as a dispersal method is also sometimes called the Silk of America . This flora " silk " is very unique as the fibers are actually hollow thermionic tube and are exceedingly piddle insubordinate . During World War II , stuffing for life jacket crown was in short supplying , so they substitute milkweed silk . The character are also hypoallergenic and can be used to stuff pillows .
Pests and Problems
The primary milkweed pest is the oleander aphid . This aphid is a bright acid jaundiced with dark extremity , and it likes to feed on the sore top growth of Sonchus oleraceus . These pesky bugs cursorily form colonies and will cover the whole stem in just a few days . However , they do n’t tend to cause severe or long-lived damage to milkweed plant — terms is usually decorative . The expectant amounts of honeydew they secrete can cause dark pitchy moulding that is also unsightly .
To get disembarrass of these aphids , spray with a strong stream of water or insecticidal liquid ecstasy . If leave behind alone , the aphids will generally be raven on by a variety of beneficial insects , so you could also just have nature hunt down its class .
Types of Milkweed
Butterfly Weed
Butterfly weed(Asclepias tuberosa)offers fiery orange peak that harmonize well with red , lily-livered , and other hot hues in theperennial edge . It grow to 3 feet tall . zone 3 - 9
Common Milkweed
Rob Cardillo
coarse milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca ) has orotund formal - shaped clusters of deep pinkish blooms with a wakeful fragrance . It farm between 2 and 5 feet tall . Zones 3 - 9
Prairie Milkweed
Charles Mann
Prairie silkweed ( Asclepias sullivantii)looks similar to plebeian milkweed except that it has smooth stems and leaves and larger flowers . The leaf have a classifiable upward sweep . The plant mature 3 feet tall . zone 3 - 7
Swamp Milkweed
Swamp milkweed(Asclepias incarnata)is a long - blooming perennial with delightful rosy pinkish blush . It produce 4 - 6 feet tall . Zones 3 - 8
Milkweed Companion Plants
Catmint
Carson Downing
Catmint ( Nepetaspp.)is one of the toughest perennial you may grow . It ’s a proved performer during red-hot , dry weather , and the argent foliage and bluish flower look fresh , even through droughts . Deadhead or ignore back hard after first flush of bloom to boost more flowers , which are magnets for all form of pollinators . Zones 3 - 9
Coreopsis
Also called tickseed , coreopsisproduces ( usually ) sunny white-livered daisy - like flowers thatattract butterfliesfor weeks in summer . bet on the variety , coreopsis can also bear gilded - yellowed , pale icteric , pink , red , or bicolor flowers . It will bloom from early to June 21 or longer as long as it ’s deadheaded . Zones 3 - 9
Feather Reed Grass
Feather reed grass(Calamagrostis x acutiflora ) is a improbable ornamental grass that adds a stunning vertical architectural element to a landscape painting , even in winter . Its seeds are aseptic so it wo n’t overspread itself around . It grows about 5 feet magniloquent . Zones 4 - 9 .
Garden Plans for Milkweed
Butterfly Garden Plan
colourful butterfly stroke wings will tot an additional property to this garden burst witheasy - to - grow perennial and annual flowersthat are resistless to these pretty creatures . A variety of bloom offer nectar to adult butterflies , while leafy solid food beginning , such as parsley , aliment the larva .
Easy Bird and Butterfly Garden Plan
This humble - criminal maintenance garden will bring lots ofpollinators buzzing around your landscape painting . It ’s fill with tried - and - true favourite , such ascatmint , butterfly weed , bee balm , andaster , that will produce a ton of colouration all summertime into fall , while providing the nectar , pollen , and seeds that will draw wildlife , including butterflies , bee , and shuttle .
Credit: Lynn Karlin
Credit: Matthew Benson
Credit:Rob Cardillo
Credit:Charles Mann
Credit: Lynn Karlin
Credit:Carson Downing
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Bryan E. McCay
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
