asclepias

Note that in Germany and Switzerland, Asclepias syriaca (Milkweed) is considered invasive, with a negative impact on biodiversity.

There are also some milkweed adjacent non-natives that they sort of like, e.g., Gomphocarpus physocarpus (aka Asclepias physocarpa).

Last week's article motivated me to plant Milkweed ( Asclepias tuberosa and Asclepias incarnata ) in my garden next year, to help with the population of Monarch butterflies and bees.

This is profoundly untrue, at least for milkweed sensu lato Most Asclepias species contain cardiac glycosides and can be highly poisonous.

I planted asclepias incarnata here in my south bay garden and orange aphids killed it within a month.

Common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, is native to North America and is one of the most important northern plants for the monarch butterfly.

I know I wouldn’t starve so long as we’ve got all those cattails…) Certainly there are non-native Asclepias species.

Obligatory comment to avoid planting Asclepias curassavica (aka tropical milkweed, often found in big box stores), in favor of any of the native species.

To my knowledge Asclepias syriaca is native only to North America.

I planted asclepias tuberosa (mexican milkweed, orange flowers, medium height), lots of agastache, eupatorium (little joe pyeweed), and monarda.

We plant both "swamp" milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and the monarchs seem to vastly prefer the former for their babies.

Aha, but here's the problem: if you live on the east coast (or just east of the Rockies) in the USA, you probably are referring to Asclepias syriaca, but "common milkweed" on the west coast could be a different species, perhaps Asclepias californica.

In my area (Southern California), the Monarchs seem to really prefer the Tropical (Asclepias curassavica).

There was a big trend to planting tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) on the West Coast.

In my own experience in California, the Monarchs really prefer to nectar and lay eggs on tropical rather than the native narrow-leaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis).