nice weed

[GDLWyverex]

This rather nice looking weed keeps comming up all over the place and I am wondering what it is.

 

Anyone know

Thanks

 

Richard

[Silas_Sancona]

Tropical ( red )  Milkweed, Asclepias curassavica

[Neil C]

We have that here and yes for a weed it's eyecatching.

Regards Neil

[annafl]

It is a host plant for the Monarch butterfly, who lays its eggs on it.  The caterpillars use it for food and then go form a chrysalis to turn into a butterfly.  It's a keeper plant in our garden.  We always keep a stock of them.  It sets seed easily too.

[GDLWyverex]

Thanks all

Since it appears to actually be a perennial, I'll toss it in with my wild petunias

 

Richard

[RaleighNC]

3 hours ago, annafl said:

It is a host plant for the Monarch butterfly, who lays its eggs on it.  The caterpillars use it for food and then go form a chrysalis to turn into a butterfly.  It's a keeper plant in our garden.  We always keep a stock of them.  It sets seed easily too.

There is serious concern that this milkweed species is detrimental to Monarch butterflies in the US. In parts of the US that are warm enough for tropical milkweed to remain evergreen, it can harbor a parasite of monarchs (see https://xerces.org/2018/04/19/tropical-milkweed-a-no-grow/ ). And in areas where it dies back in winter it causes a different problem. It keeps growing until frost, unlike native milkweeds, and this tricks Monarchs into continuing to reproduce and lay eggs rather than migrating when they should. It isn't known how large of an impact these effects are having, but until we know more, don't grow this species if you want to help the monarch. Grow native species instead.

[Silas_Sancona]

19 minutes ago, RaleighNC said:

There is serious concern that this milkweed species is detrimental to Monarch butterflies in the US. In parts of the US that are warm enough for tropical milkweed to remain evergreen, it can harbor a parasite of monarchs (see https://xerces.org/2018/04/19/tropical-milkweed-a-no-grow/ ). And in areas where it dies back in winter it causes a different problem. It keeps growing until frost, unlike native milkweeds, and this tricks Monarchs into continuing to reproduce and lay eggs rather than migrating when they should. It isn't known how large of an impact these effects are having, but until we know more, don't grow this species if you want to help the monarch. Grow native species instead.

Yep, forgot to mention this..  May also effect the development of  Monarch -related Queens as well. As sugested, always try to seek out native, or at least regionally native Milkweed and Milk Vine sp. instead of purchasing the above Asclepias sp. for the butterfly garden.  Luckily, there are two nurseries in Tucson who regularly grow / keep in stock most, if not all locally and regionally native sp.  And make a big deal about using them. Interestingly, the southern half of CA. shares several of same sp. that can be found here in AZ.  

Here in Phoenix, you're lucky if you can find one native sp. regularly stocked in local nurseries, and most so called "experienced" nursery people scratch their heads when asked about others..  or when discusion regarding the impact Tropical Milkweed can have on Monarch development is brought up.  I always send anyone looking for native sp. ( And anything native / regionally native in general )  down to the 'Ol Pueblo (Tucson).

[palmsOrl]

That is unfortunate news, as I have enjoyed watching the caterpillars defoliate these pretty weeds for years now and then form their chrysalis on the plant or nearby.  Guess I will look into some Florida natives instead.

[annafl]

19 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Yep, forgot to mention this..  May also effect the development of  Monarch -related Queens as well. As sugested, always try to seek out native, or at least regionally native Milkweed and Milk Vine sp. instead of purchasing the above Asclepias sp. for the butterfly garden.  Luckily, there are two nurseries in Tucson who regularly grow / keep in stock most, if not all locally and regionally native sp.  And make a big deal about using them. Interestingly, the southern half of CA. shares several of same sp. that can be found here in AZ.  

Here in Phoenix, you're lucky if you can find one native sp. regularly stocked in local nurseries, and most so called "experienced" nursery people scratch their heads when asked about others..  or when discusion regarding the impact Tropical Milkweed can have on Monarch development is brought up.  I always send anyone looking for native sp. ( And anything native / regionally native in general )  down to the 'Ol Pueblo (Tucson).

Yes, I should have mentioned I'm aware of this and that in our area (in Florida south of Orlando) there is a known population of Monarchs that has long been known as non-migratory and who needs milkweed year round.  What is recommended in our area (where there are no freezes), is to cut back severely or pull out the old tropical milkweed by October, so the OE doesn't accumulate in significant amounts.  I am already slowly pulling out the ones that don't look vigorous, and have already pulled over half, doing more weekly.  I rotate areas where I plant them every year.  I would have only native milkweed if I could find it, but even the native nurseries around here don't have it.  I look and ask every time I visit these nurseries.  It has been said it is better to feed them than not feed them at all or their populations will languish.  Thanks for bringing attention to this.  I will keep looking for the natives.

https://monarchjointventure.org/resources/faq/when-to-cut-back-tropical-milkweed

https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2017/12/14/time-to-cut-back-tropical-milkweed/

[annafl]

20 hours ago, RaleighNC said:

20 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Yep, forgot to mention this..  May also effect the development of  Monarch -related Queens as well. As sugested, always try to seek out native, or at least regionally native Milkweed and Milk Vine sp. instead of purchasing the above Asclepias sp. for the butterfly garden.  Luckily, there are two nurseries in Tucson who regularly grow / keep in stock most, if not all locally and regionally native sp.  And make a big deal about using them. Interestingly, the southern half of CA. shares several of same sp. that can be found here in AZ.  

Here in Phoenix, you're lucky if you can find one native sp. regularly stocked in local nurseries, and most so called "experienced" nursery people scratch their heads when asked about others..  or when discusion regarding the impact Tropical Milkweed can have on Monarch development is brought up.  I always send anyone looking for native sp. ( And anything native / regionally native in general )  down to the 'Ol Pueblo (Tucson).

 

Sorry, I quoted the wrong post above, and I couldn't delete it!

 

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, annafl said:

Yes, I should have mentioned I'm aware of this and that in our area (in Florida south of Orlando) there is a known population of Monarchs that has long been known as non-migratory and who needs milkweed year round.  What is recommended in our area (where there are no freezes), is to cut back severely or pull out the old tropical milkweed by October, so the OE doesn't accumulate in significant amounts.  I am already slowly pulling out the ones that don't look vigorous, and have already pulled over half, doing more weekly.  I rotate areas where I plant them every year.  I would have only native milkweed if I could find it, but even the native nurseries around here don't have it.  I look and ask every time I visit these nurseries.  It has been said it is better to feed them than not feed them at all or their populations will languish.  Thanks for bringing attention to this.  I will keep looking for the natives.

https://monarchjointventure.org/resources/faq/when-to-cut-back-tropical-milkweed

https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2017/12/14/time-to-cut-back-tropical-milkweed/

Agree, if this is the only sp. someone has access to, use it while locating other species.. Like you said, better to provide something than nothing..

 

As far as finding Milkweeds there, If you're in the area, check out Sweetbay Nursery up in Parrish, just north of the river, by the outlet mall in Bradenton / Ellenton. If anyone is going to have native Milkweeds, he should. Theres another source for natives out east of Sarasota ( can't remember their name atm ) but never saw any milkweeds in stock when i'd visit looking for other stuff.

Sweetbay has a list of stuff they typically stock online to look over. Pretty extensive for their location, imo. Can vouch for the nursery, quality and selection of plants, and people running the place. 99% of the Florida natives i brought w/ me here to trial came from his nursery and have done well. Wish he were closer, or could ship smaller plants out of state. Need more stuff, lol. 

Edited July 31, 2019 by Silas_Sancona
Edit

[annafl]

On 7/31/2019 at 10:56 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

Agree, if this is the only sp. someone has access to, use it while locating other species.. Like you said, better to provide something than nothing..

 

As far as finding Milkweeds there, If you're in the area, check out Sweetbay Nursery up in Parrish, just north of the river, by the outlet mall in Bradenton / Ellenton. If anyone is going to have native Milkweeds, he should. Theres another source for natives out east of Sarasota ( can't remember their name atm ) but never saw any milkweeds in stock when i'd visit looking for other stuff.

Sweetbay has a list of stuff they typically stock online to look over. Pretty extensive for their location, imo. Can vouch for the nursery, quality and selection of plants, and people running the place. 99% of the Florida natives i brought w/ me here to trial came from his nursery and have done well. Wish he were closer, or could ship smaller plants out of state. Need more stuff, lol. 

I called Sweetbay Nursery, but the only one they have in stock regularly is the swamp milkweed.  Unless your yard has an area of poor drainage, that won't work for long term.  The other one (whorled) is out of stock and it didn't sound like she recommended it anyway.  The other native plant nursery in Miakka where I go sometimes has never had it.  For some reason it is exceedingly hard to find at least regionally here.  Hopefully someday more nurseries will stock it.  As interested as people are in butterflies, you'd think someone would have figured it out, since it's been a while the tropical milkweed has gotten a bad rap.  Thanks for your suggestion!