I also planted zinnias and parsley next to the milkweed. Common milkweed stems are covered with opposite, oval shaped leaves. Congrats on all your new monarchs….enjoy your extended season!
when to plant milkweed in virginia
by | Jan 1, 2021 | Uncategorized | 0 comments
There is lots of milkweed in the wild, but maybe I should plant some in my garden. Unlike many ornamentals, swamp milkweed tolerates heavy clay soils and is very deer-resistant. I learned early on that if you break the leaves or stems of this plant, a sticky, white sap oozes out and irritates your skin. Last autumn, tending milkweed, she was hot and wiped the sweat off her face. The toxicity of the plant … It grew aggressively throughout several of the farm’s pasture fields, but the cows and horses avoided it. VA native milkweed species. Dr. Richard Mills’ outstanding article on “Milkweed and Monarchs” was reprinted in the Fall 2001 issue of the Virginia Butterfly Bulletin. Milkweed native to West Virginia can be purchased from native plant nurseries and seed companies in both plug and seed form. I will not use chemical insecticides, as they may kill my Monarch eggs and larvae. Now I am in Norther Illinois and I have honeybees. This year I have noticed many of the stems have tiny orange aphid-like insects on them. Good luck with your garden!
Fall Planting Plants
You might try planting in a couple different area to see where the plants thrive. This is perfectly normal! Monarchs may not notice a single butterfly weed or milkweed plant, but they do notice a group of them. When the flowers of summer wane, pollinators move on to late bloomers, such as the mistakenly maligned native thistles. I bought the plant in a garden center and it has shed its fluffy seeds once already. You can easily crowded young seedlings to extend your milkweed bed. Stratification of milkweeds usually occurs best at 32 to 41˚F for a period of three to six weeks. Where do I buy the seeds?