Aphids do not deter monarch caterpillars. It did not help that this time the plants were engulfed by yellow aphids. To ensure their safety from predators I would like to take some clippings from the garden for the caterpillars, so they can live inside, until adulthood. It reseeds itself, not many perennial plants returning from old bases. Here they are an animal of the suburban garden and eat exotic plants, there are no native plants of significance. It’s my number one source for anything Monarch or Milkweed related. May be more of an issue for you in 6b. Is it possible to cut back this plant to rejuvenate it? Bud Bowen. Butterflies attracted to the blooms. I’m confused as I thought this plant was hardy. But even so, it should die back to the ground if it was outside over winter…. I wish I’d done it sooner. Hi Leonard, one of the most asked questions on the site, so I compiled a list of ideas in this post. early May). Other than orange oleander aphid attacks, it’s been doing well and I’ve been playing with rooting cuttings in water and seed germination. Here’s the full list: How to Stop Aphids from taking over your Milkweed Plants. Hi Don, not that I’m aware of, but a few years ago I didn’t think deer ate milkweed…they most certainly do! Hi I live in zone 9 Louisiana. Am I missing something? I like them both, but they have very different growth cycle and growing habits. If the seeding gets to be too much, I would cut off at least some of the pods. I live in Central Florida and it is March 1st now. I’m so excited! Yes, they eat a lot! We should be pushing for native species for YOUR REGION for many reasons, especially if that is the traditional food of these butterflies. TN. there are more disease issues in Southern California because the continuous growing season means plants can collect spores and bacteria. All info I have shows they are hardy to 10…will they come back or should I just cut them all down and replace them? Please help and advice.. I was just given a Asclepius Curassavica Silky Gold Milkweed (I live in Phoenix, Arizona) and as I was preparing my planting area (in the ground) to place it in to, I discovered grub worms (Grrrr!). I live in NE FL and would like to plant asclepias tuberosa in addition to some more tropical milkweed. It put out a couple nice blooms and the smell was intoxicating. A. curassavica is higher in the cardiac glycosides that protect the Monarch caterpillar somewhat from predators, which is why the Monarch favors it over other milkweeds. But, stratification wouldn’t hurt the seeds of Butterfly Weed at all, and might even increase the germination rate. An easy to grow plant with showy blood red and orange flowers. The “Silky Mix,” or Asclepias curassavica, has several beautiful variations of the original A. tuberosa. Hi Susan, what’s the botanical name for ‘stick vine’? Mix consists of Gold and Scarlet. Hi Arthur, harvest them when they are cracked open, but before the fluff starts coming out, much easier to harvest then: I have a milkweed plant. Hi Bud, you can fall plant seeds around November (you don’t want them to germinate before winter). Monarch caterpillars are tolerant of these chemicals⁠—in fact, cardenolides are the very compound that protects the monarch from predation. Hi Andrew, it’s late to be stratifying seeds but you could try an abbreviated cold moist stratification (1`-2 weeks) and hope for the best. I currently have 8 of the tropical milkweeds in the ground. $8.00. Hi Amanda, neem oil is an insect growth regulator and can kill caterpillars (keeps them from forming a chrysalis) My advice would be to start growing more milkweed so you’re not dependent on one plant. It helps them to germinate faster. Are you talking about tropical milkweed (A. curassavica) or butterfly weed (A. tuberosa)? I stopped at the store and picked up a Red Silk Milkweed, which the nursery employee assured me my caterpillars could eat. Now I feel maybe I should return some beautiful plants I just bought at Lowes. Summer/Fall Bloom. I use a very generic flowering plant food, apply sparingly, and water a couple of times a week now that the temp is getting warmer. My first large female arrived on Tuesday. What would you advise? We have 5 milkweed plants in containers. There are many more species in the Apocynaceae family that encourage Monarch reproductive growth. I’m in Houston, Texas. Amy, I couldn’t disagree more. Sowing: Direct sow Asclepias curassavica seeds just below the surface of the soil in late fall or early spring. This will promote healthy new growth in a garden setting. It’s late August with 90 degree days. The 3 best ways to stop them organically are milkweed diversification, having various patches around your yard/garden, and planting aphid repelling plants close to your milkweed. The spider mites are consuming the plants. Under these conditions, tropical milkweed produces higher cardenolide concentrations. any advice is much appreciated. So silly when the solution is easy–plant natives. The good news is that tropical seeds a lot so hopefully you will have plenty more…. Can you comment on that? Here’s more info on the potential problems/solutions with tropical milkweed: hello tony, i checked all the tops of my mexican milkweed, Asclepia curassavica, and i can’t find any growing tips that aren’t producing flower buds. After the last frost and when the seedlings have grown tall enough to handle safely, transplant them. Hi John, monarch caterpillars love munching on tropical milkweed. Buy Tropical Milkweed Seeds & Plants from Joyful Butterfly, Click here for 25+ Milkweed Ideas for your Butterfly Garden. It only takes 2 caterpillars to devour an entire plant in their 2 week life span. good luck! As for your native comments, I agree 100%. While there are potential problems with OE in warm regions, there are also simple solutions gardeners can take if they choose to grow it. I do not see any aphids at all. Hi Tony, I just bought some starts of Asclepias Curassavica “Silky Deep Red”, and will be planting them in the coastal hills of Sonoma County, CA. The leaves are turning yellow too. Here in Santa Cruz, Tropical milkweed is an annual, it dies back in the winter on its own. We get far more activity on other natives including common, purple, and swamp. Tony, I love your effort but I am really concerned that more native milkweeds are not being promoted here. 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