The species above is Asclepias incarnata - swamp milkweed. I planted it first in Harlem and it moved with us. It is growing in-ground and is much less vigorous than Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed, the one I also eat), and I recently planted another in a large pot. This is an easier milkweed to control, if you are a neat gardener.
This smaller butterfly is on the common milkweed, which was planted late in spring 2016 and which came back very strongly this year. And not exactly where I was expecting it, either. If you have spreading anxiety in a very orderly garden, I recommend using a planting barrier under ground as a medium term control. I am not sure how it would work, long term. The runners are vigorous and shoots will appear many feet from the parent plant. Ideally, plant it in a wilder section or in a meadow. The pollinators - many kinds - will love you. Or, my top soapbox suggestion: Grow it as a farm crop. Because you can eat the shoots, young stems, tender leaves, buds, flowers and pods.
Or plant a different milkweed.
Or plant a different milkweed.
And this one is on the common milkweed pods. I may squeal with excitement if I ever see a caterpillar or even better, a jewel-like and green cocoon.
They also stopped on the Ligularia. (The milkweed is where they lay their eggs.)
I need to plant milkweed next year. We've had a frequent Monarch visitor who seems drawn to our pollinator plants (Agastache, Penstemon, etc.), but I didn't realize they lay their eggs in milkweed. You might find this story about one of our graduates this year interesting. He fashioned his own internship at a shipyard in order to restore Monarch habitat there. http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2017/05/vigor_and_university_of_portla.html
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link - wonderful project, Beth!
DeleteCongrats! but question... my A. incarnata bloomed inn mid-May! Any chance the monarchs would still use it for eggs, even if they never used it for food? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYes, the main food is for the larvae/caterpillars - so the leaves are fine. And I really don't know enough about where they are, when...
DeleteAnd if you have other nectar plants the adults can feed on those...
DeleteI used Incarnta in an arrangement yesterday with pink garden roses. It's such a beautiful color.
ReplyDeleteAnd as I am a messy 'gardener', I've allowed the common milkweed to flourish where it will in my front garden.
I'm finding my other milkweeds, namely whorled and incarnata, to be nearly as versatile in getting around the garden, although syriaca still holds the crown.
ReplyDeleteMarie: Your plate is full this summer for sure but may I suggest you consider raising your own monarchs! A beautiful, gratifying and valuable experience. Chances of eggs making it through to chrysalis and emergence in the wild are extremely low.We've had 99% success raising them in home. What a thrill releasing them in a pollinator garden to create another generation of these extraordinary creatures.
ReplyDeleteSusan
Boston MA