Directions for planting Butterfly Milkweed

[gunslinger256]

I discovered a place offering free milkweed seeds if you send them a self addressed stamped envelope.

I sent them 50cents and got a number of "asclepias speciosa" seeds by request. I have 4 of them stratifying in the fridge now but was wondering what can I do to prevent the plants from growing into my neighbor's garden since it can get invasive with the rhizomes. I will try to stay on top of the seed pod removal so can control the spread that way.

I think I can keep the plant in a deep bottomless container in the ground but not sure how large a pot to use.

Any thoughts on controlling the invasiveness?

[LIcenter]

Originally Posted by gunslinger256

I discovered a place offering free milkweed seeds if you send them a self addressed stamped envelope.

I sent them 50cents and got a number of "asclepias speciosa" seeds by request. I have 4 of them stratifying in the fridge now but was wondering what can I do to prevent the plants from growing into my neighbor's garden since it can get invasive with the rhizomes. I will try to stay on top of the seed pod removal so can control the spread that way.

I think I can keep the plant in a deep bottomless container in the ground but not sure how large a pot to use.

Any thoughts on controlling the invasiveness?

I'm not seeing anything that states this plant is invasive.
PROPAGATION
"Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Root cuttings can be taken in fall or early spring. Seeds may be sown outside in late fall or the following spring. Germination of spring-planted seeds is enhanced by moist stratification.
Seed Treatment: Stratify 3 months at 40 degrees."

Yes you are going to get some spreading of this plant from the rhizomes, but nothing like a Trumpet vine that may send out runners 40 feet away. I have it's cousin 'Asclepias incarnata' growing in one of my front beds with nary a problem.

[gunslinger256]

Originally Posted by LIcenter

I'm not seeing anything that states this plant is invasive.
PROPAGATION
"Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Root cuttings can be taken in fall or early spring. Seeds may be sown outside in late fall or the following spring. Germination of spring-planted seeds is enhanced by moist stratification.
Seed Treatment: Stratify 3 months at 40 degrees."

Yes you are going to get some spreading of this plant from the rhizomes, but nothing like a Trumpet vine that may send out runners 40 feet away. I have it's cousin 'Asclepias incarnata' growing in one of my front beds with nary a problem.

Yes. Swamp milkweed is noted to be the least invasive next to the tropical versions (asclepias curasavica.... sorry wrote that by memory. Not sure of spelling).

I have found some references to speciosa being invasive but no details on HOW invasive. I would hate to have baby bushes sprout up in my neighbor's lawn even if it would help the monarchs.

Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed) Wildflower Seed

[L0ve]

I had to Google this and saw a lot of flowers.

The Milkweed I knew as a kid grew on my father's rural 150 acre farm in Ohio, a lot of it along the dirt road.

It was a green plant that grew large green pods, that when broken open, poured out a white milk.

I suppose we called it by the wrong name all those years ago. Now i'm curious what the real name of the milk filled pods is?

[elston]

Originally Posted by Submariner

Milkweeds grows wild here.

Never heard of a 'butterfly milkweed'.

\

When I moved to CA from ME.....I learned the milkweed there bears no resemblance to the plant we called milkweed in New England. Back in Maine milkweed had pink flowers and fleshy stem and leaves. In the west milk weed is a tall scraggly plant with small thin leaves a bright orange and red flowers. Monarch butterflies love them....but so do a variety of nasty beetles and othe insects. It all seems to balance out and the milk weed keep spreading altho they often look they have been totally devoured.