Monday, July 12, 2010

Mexican Butterfly Weed vs Butterfly Weed

From In the Garden

The first monarch of the season!! It arrived Friday, 9 July 2010. And isn't it only fitting I should find it on the butterfly weed? Not just any butterfly weed, but the easy Mexican butterfly weed, aka Asclepias curassavica. I had purchased six plants of 'Butterfly Weed' from Lowes late last fall. I paid a mere $1 per one gallon plant so I could not pass up such a good deal on butterfly weed. I thought the 'butterfly weed' was our native butterfly weed, aka Asclepias tuberosa but it is not. I do already grow Asclepias tuberosa but it does not spread around much and is very slow to get established. Not so with the new Mexican butterfly weed. Within weeks of planting these pots in October I had six beautiful tall and in full bloom orange and yellow butterfly weed plants blooming. Just look at November's Bloom Day if you'd like to see this new butterfly weed in full bloom. I was thrilled! I was also a bit confused, let me explain.

I had no idea there was such a thing as Mexican butterfly weed when this spring I was reading one of the many gardening publications I read, and I came across a mention of Mexican butterfly weed. Huh? It got me to thinking that perhaps my butterfly weed might be Mexican butterfly weed instead of our native butterfly weed like I had assumed. I suspected something was wrong with my butterfly weed due to a few reasons. Let me explain.

I was confused because first of all our native butterfly weed does not normally bloom in October and in my experience its bloom period is rather short, not so with the Mexican butterfly weed. Additionally, it is most difficult to buy our native butterfly weed in large pots due to the tuberous root that makes it difficult to transplant the tuberous butterfly weed. Hmmmm. One last clue that made me think I had a different kind of butterfly weed was the fact that none of the original six plants returned for me this year. My two native butterfly weed plants return without fail each year, even though they are always late to emerge I know where they are and patiently await their greenery popping up from the ground. I was quite sad these new butterfly weed plants did not return and was not happy at all. Neither were my friends who had also purchased these butterfly weeds on my recommendation. But, life goes on and sometimes these things happen in the garden. I didn't give it another thought and chocked up the loss to late planting.

By mid June or so I began noticing seedlings in the vicinity of the original six plants-lots of seedlings. I would estimate that where there were six butterfly weed last fall I now have about three dozen of these little lovelies. I knew they were not weeds as they were not the typical looking weed and I amazingly did not pull them out. I let them grow knowing that once they bloomed I'd know exactly what they were. Enter the reference to Mexican butterfly weed and there you have it! There are all sorts of strings on the forums about this butterfly weed. It is true it seeds itself around, it is true the aphids love it (probably because the foliage is most succulent with very little to no care), and, as I've only recently found out-it is a real butterfly attractant! I've never had monarch females lay eggs on my native milkweed, though the swallowtails sometimes eat it-but I am hoping this monarch or more that are sure to come will stick around and gift my garden with some baby monarchs. I am SO excited! Can you tell?

I really like this butterfly weed and actually much prefer it to the native butterfly weed. My little colony is growing in part shade (like all my plants) and poor soil that is located under some oak trees. These seedlings get no help from me yet they look good! And, the monarchs like them. I hope the Mexican butterfly weed does spread around some more but if it gets out of control I will simply hand pull them as that is not difficult....

in the garden....enjoying the butterflies and hoping for some small cats soon.


Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team,

In the Garden

29 comments:

  1. I've never seen the Mexican type of Butterfly Weed, pretty interesting looking plant. I haven't seen any Monarchs here yet, weird huh? They usually flock to the Buddleia bush once it starts blooming, but no signs of them yet. Hm...

    ReplyDelete
  2. It looks like you have a double butterfly attractant, going by the lantana growing alongside :)
    I didn't know that aphids like them too. But I think I could handle a few aphids if it brings in a whole lot of butterflies too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. It sounds like a great 'accident.' You got a whole new plant and butterflies!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Tina, I have A. tuberosa and two kinds of milkweed (swamp, A. incarnata, and purple, A. purpurascens), but have never heard of A. curassavica. It would die over winter here for sure, but it would be nice to have a late bloomer. Are you going to save some seeds for, say, a certain seed swap? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Tina, great post. I'd never heard of the Mexican variety either. The monarchs seem to like my native a. tuberosa but like you say, it is very slow to establish. Sometimes I visit the butterfly forum on Garden Web and they often talk about the numerous different types of butterfly weed many of them tropical or subtropical.
    Marnie

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is a pretty plant & good it attracts butterflies. I've seen a couple butterflies here but don't know their names. Need to learn them.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think I may have one very similar to yours that returns each year. Maybe it's because it is very close to the house. I've never seen it flower though because the aphids always damage it too much!

    ReplyDelete
  8. He new butterfly weed sounds like you will have to keep it in check. :) It'd great though that you are happy with it and you have monarch butterflies.

    ReplyDelete
  9. There are some absolutely gorgeous tropical asclepias that I want to try, too. Congrats on the monarch! gail

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hope your friends also did not pull it as a weed when it came up at a latter date than expected. A real keeper.Did you talk to Uncle Rick yesterday? So far it is a go for this afternoon. He sounded good last night.

    ReplyDelete
  11. A pretty little flower for sure.
    When you said you were waiting for little cats I was thinking the feline kind! Now why would she want something that would roughly play with the butterflies? Ha!

    ReplyDelete
  12. It sure is wonderful that Mother nature gives us all these surprises.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tina, I have the Mexican butterfly weed but I have always called it tropical milkweed. Actually, I have 3 different kinds but the tropical is always the very last to show up.
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  14. Racquel, Those monarchs will show up any day now. Keep a look out!

    Sunita, Good catch! Yup, lantana and crocosmia grow near the butterfly weed. The butterflies love all three so hopefully they'll stay around.

    GSS, You read my mind!

    Monica, I've been meaning to try the swamp milkweed but so far have not. Soon though. I'll save some seeds for sure but not sure if I'll do the seed swap. I can send you some on the side though quite easily. Even though it wouldn't be hardy there I bet they'd all sprout. Very easy from seeds.

    Marnie, Same here on the Mexican butterfly weed. Who knew? I really like it better though. It blooms longer and is easier to get seedlings. Hopefully I feel that way next year too. Those forums are pretty cool. I don't participate usually but do give input on plants and things.

    Lola, I bet your garden is inundated with butterflies. You live in Florida! The butterfly capital of the states (at least in my opinion:)

    Dave, The aphids do seem to like this butterfly weed but they never stopped it from blooming and it is usually attacked later in the year. A keeper nonetheless. Maybe a good shot of water will rid the plant of aphids?

    Melanie, It is great because of the long bloom time. Those are definitely keepers. I may dig some to share but with warnings-self seeds:)

    Gail, I never knew of these butterfly weeds. Now I'm sold. Love em. Thanks on the monarch. They are on their way!

    Mom, I warned them about it. They are not as big a weeder as I am so I suspect their seedlings are growing like crazy. They'll love it once it blooms. Their garden attracts tons of butterflies all the time. I did not talk to Uncle Rick. Hope all goes well. I figured they'd do the other operation today. He'll be fine. He is Army tough!

    Dawn, That throws me off when I read it on other blogs too but it fits. I'm diligently looking for the eggs and caterpillars now.

    Keewee, Gardening just wouldn't be as fun without these surprises and we can probably garden a 100 years and still learn something new due to Mother Natures changing whims. It's an amazing thing.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Linda, I saw it on the forums as tropical milkweed and wasn't sure which name I should use. Those common names get me each time. Do you like the tropical most of your three varieties? I am really smitten with it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This reminds me of my confusion with Yarrow.
    They are both pretty but I do prefer the "tame" version.

    Small cats. Can't wait to see those.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hello all....

    It is always wonderful when you spot the first Monarch in the garden! I get excited about all butterflies, moths and skippers though as they are all so darn pretty. I have a butterfly weed that you identified for me a few years ago. This one popped up on its own from I assume a birds treat to the garden. It gets larger and blooms more each year but not for long. It is a spring bloomer and gives me lots of seed pods each year. I have yet to see any new ones come from this one plant. It always gets aphids or something but this year did not. I am not sure why it did not get anything this year but not complaining, that’s for sure...

    As Dawn, when you said new cats, I was thinking your cat was going to have kittens. Duh, I should have known you were talking about caterpillars. LOL...

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love butterflys, have a nice summertime ! big hugh Kathrin

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sounds like an exciting discovery! So glad that you have attracted Monarchs. Carla

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is the fourth season I have grown it, we call it Tropical Milkweed and sell it in cell packs at work. I found that it can sometimes come all yellow, which disappointed me one year. Now I look for seedling that have a slightly red tint to the new growth and found they are the ones I like with red and orange flowers. I too now have seedlings from last year, but have planted a bunch of new ones too. They make good food for black swallowtails later in the summer after the fennel is eaten.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have lots of dragon fly's here but does anyone know what a red one is. I have been watching them as of late as there is so many & have the red one come around all the time. It is quite large.
    I hope all had a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lola, Try Kirby's dropwing or flame skimmer.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi Tina, i haven't seen any butterfly weed but maybe the butterflies prefer the Mexican one better than yours, because the monarchs are from Mexico. hehehe!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I've never heard of Mexican butterfly weed before either, Tina. I do like those orange tubular blooms. Sounds like this one is a keeper. Congratulations on the Monarch! I hope you'll see some caterpillars soon as well.

    ReplyDelete
  25. It's really a pretty one and obviously the Monarchs like it! I started some butterfly weed from seed, but the slugs chewed them all down. I saw some at the nursery, but wow was it expensive. I'm crossing my fingers they'll still have some and it'll go on sale later. I've just see a few butterflies so far this year.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Does it flower the first year from seed? If so, perhaps we untropical types can try them.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thanks for the post! I received seeds as a "gift" with seeds that I had ordered. I will try to get them growing in the greenhouse although with as hot as it has been they could probably be left outside. Anyway, I will give it a try!

    ReplyDelete
  28. mexican butterfly weed is a monarch MAGNET, but what on earth shears every single leaf off my plants? one day they are beautiful, then suddenly they have been scalped!!! i'm in louisiana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi em pal, It is possible that the caterpillars of the monarch ate all of the leaves or perhaps a milkweed tussock caterpillar. In my garden it is the normally the milkweed tussock caterpillar that decimates the milkweed. If it is not one of them then I have no idea. I don't think deer or rabbits eat milkweed because it is normally toxic to many animals and insects but I suppose it is possible. Check this link here for more info on the tussock moth and good luck in sunny Louisiana!: http://tinaramsey.blogspot.com/2011/09/another-new-caterpillar-milkweed.html

      Delete

ALL SPAM WILL BE PROMPTLY FRIED. PLEASE DO NOT LIFT PHOTOS OR WORDS. THANKS!