Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Monday - August 01, 2011
From: Wimberley, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Butterfly Gardens
Title: Help finding and growing milkweeds for monarch butterflies
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I would like to participate in your "Monarch Waystation" program. Knowing how milkweeds generally don't transplant well, and I have poor luck getting them to propagate from seeds, could you please tell me if there is a place that the three milkweed species for my area can be purchased. If they cannot, could you give some advice on better production from seeds? Thanks!ANSWER:
The Monarch Waystation is a program of the The University of Kansas' Biological Survey Monarch Watch, not a program of the Wildflower Center, but we can certainly help with the milkweeds.
There are actually more than three species of Asclepias that grow in your area either in or adjacent to Hays County according to the USDA Plants Database and are available for sale as plants or seeds. Here are the ones I have found listed by suppliers as being for sale as either seeds or plants:
- Asclepias asperula (Spider milkweed) is avaliable from Native American Seed in Junction and is on the Wildflower Center's Plant Sale List. Check the calendar for the next Wildflower Center Plant Sale. Scroll down the species page for PROPAGATION information.
- Asclepias tuberosa (Butterflyweed) is available at the Wildflower Center Plant Sale, at Natives of Texas in Kerrville, and from Native American Seed in Junction. Here is the propagation protocol from the Native Plant Network.
- Asclepias viridis (Green antelopehorn) is available from Native American Seed in Junction and they will have propagation information with the seeds.
- Asclepias texana (Texas milkweed) is listed as available from Natives of Texas in Kerrville. You can find propagation information from Dave's Garden.
Although Asclepias incarnata (Swamp milkweed) is not shown by the USDA Plants Database as occurring in or adjacent to Hays County, it does occur as near as Burnet County. It does, however, require moist or wet soil—thus its name "swamp milkweed"—but it is attractive and the butterflies love it. It is shown as available on the Wildflower Center Plant Sale list and from Natives of Texas in Kerrville. Here is the propagation protocol from the Native Plant Network.
There are even more species of milkweeds that are native to your area of Texas but that aren't readily available commercially as plants or seeds. Here are photos of Texas milkweeds.
You may check for other suppliers of native plants near you by searching our National Suppliers Directory. I searched the database for suppliers of the milkweeds available for sale and looked on several of their webpages, but I did not check with all suppliers. You can find seed germination instructions for several of the milkweeds on Tom Clothier's Seed Germination Database. Additionally, the Monarch Watch webpage has an excellent article, "Growing Milkweeds", that should be very helpful. You can also read an article, "Growing and Propagating Milkweeds", from the Butterly Society of Virginia.
From the Image Gallery
More Butterfly Gardens Questions
Butterfly plants from Austin TX
December 17, 2012 - I have a butterfly garden in the front part of the house facing the south side. However it is also mostly under a few Oak trees that cast shadow over half of the front yard starting early afternoon. ...
view the full question and answer
Information on Betonyleaf thoroughwort
September 04, 2008 - I purchased Conoclinium betonicifolium (Betonyleaf thoroughwort) at the spring 2008 LBJ WC plant sale. I've not been able to find much information on the plant in the typical places, including the...
view the full question and answer
Is Passiflora 'Purple Haze' a host to Gulf Frittilary butterflies?
September 14, 2011 - Is the passion flower purple haze (pasionaria purple haze) a host plant to gulf frittilary butterflies as is the passiflora incarnata passion flower?
view the full question and answer
Natives for wet soil in Cincinnati OH
March 21, 2014 - I live in Cincinnati and the soil in my back yard is wet (soggy) all year round. There are moss and grass growing in the yard. The area is shaded in the afternoon but receives sun earlier in the day. ...
view the full question and answer
Butterfly/hummingbird garden in Texas
September 09, 2005 - I am coordinating a butterfly/hummingbird garden on 100 acres that our religious organization has. We want to use native Texas plants as much as possible. Are these two types of gardens compatible an...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |