Asclepias Syriaca, Common Milkweed
100 seeds
I GET A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR TROPICAL MILKWEED, AKA SILKY RED OR HELLO YELLO. I DO NOT CARRY IT, AS IT CARRIES A PARASITE THAT CAN HARM/KILL MONARCHS AND SPREAD FROM CONTACT WITH OTHER BUTTERFLIES.
PLEASE DO THE MONARCHS A FAVOR AND PURCHASE NATIVE SEEDS. TROPICAL MILKWEED IS NOT NATIVE TO THE U.S. ALL MILKWEED SEEDS IN MY SHOP ARE NATIVE AND DO NOT CARRY THIS PARASITE.
This is for 100 seeds.
WARM CLIMATES OR WARM SUMMER CLIMATES: THIS PARTICULAR VARIETY WILL NOT GERMINATE IF TEMPERATURES ARE OVER 85 DEGREES. However, It can handle heat after the seeds germinate.
If you’ve ever grown milkweed then you know the struggle of keeping the Monarch caterpillars fed, as they rip through leaves in a matter of days. These do an excellent job by providing abundant foliage with leaves that are 5-6 inches long and 3 inches wide. These can grow much larger than most milkweeds at heights of up to 8 feet given the right conditions.
Common milkweed is a perennial that will attract several different species of butterflies, including Monarch, Swallowtail and many others and bumble bees and hummingbirds as well. It is pinkish purple and has larger more ovate leaves than most milkweeds. Common and Swamp are both milkweeds that Monarchs prefer to lay their eggs on.
Common milkweed is one of the most beneficial milkweeds you can grow as it is native in most of the United States and it’s always best to offer at least one milkweed that is native to your area.
The Monarch butterfly population has declined by 95% and efforts have been made to plant milkweed in medians and by roadsides to help with this problem. The only problem is that Monarchs are much less likely to lay their eggs in these areas because they are not sheltered.
Monarchs prefer smaller patches of milkweed in backyard gardens and even more so on farmland. They also prefer small patches of milkweed as large patches attract too many males and can be quite bothersome to a female trying to lay eggs. Therefore they will seek out smaller patches for this purpose.
These need cold stratification to germinate. They either need 30 days of less than 45 degree weather outdoors or you can store the seeds in a moist paper towel and sealed in a plastic baggie and placed in your refrigerator for one month. This is needed in warm climates or for any climate when planting in spring.
Even with cold stratification, seeds can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks or longer to sprout. Sprouting time varies on weather conditions. In some cases, in warmer climates, the seeds won't sprout until there is a cold snap and voila! Please note that germination is poor at temperatures of 85 degrees and above.
The seeds can also be direct sown in fall in zones 4B-8B so they can go through a natural cold stratification and they will emerge in spring of they can be cold stratified in your refrigerator by folding them in a moist paper towel, placing them in a sealed plastic bag and putting them in your refrigerator for 30 days before planting.
Please note that the sap of this plant can cause skin sensitivities in some people. You should always wash your hands after handling milkweed.
Hardy to zones 4A-9B. Plant in full sun and keep soil moist.
This is for 100 seeds grown with no pesticide use whatsoever.
I combine shipping on all seed orders, you pay one flat fee for as many seeds as you would like for no additional shipping. Orders over $35 for any combination of items in my shop ship for free!
All of my seeds are tested and guaranteed. Most of my seeds are fresh off of my own plants.
