Native Milkweeds are Coming Back!

Hello Everyone! Hope you are enjoying your weekend and have a blessed Sunday. Today I am posting just a quick read and video about milkweeds entering the end dormancy.

In the video below you will see that our native Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata, is sprouting from the ground here in February. We typically see the Swamp Milkweed go dormant in November and December depending on when we get the first true cold snap. First the leaves will drop, and then eventually the tall mature main stems will turn brown and become woody. At this point the plant is usually either knocked down or blown over. Sometimes it makes it all the way through the colder season and acts as a flag marker for where to look for new growth.

February seems to be the sweet spot for when Swamp Milkweed makes its come back in Central Florida. New growth will appear from the ground up, right next to last year's growth. The fact that Swamp Milkweed and other native milkweeds go dormant and emerge from underneath the ground is one of the biggest reasons why they are recommended for butterfly gardens over non-native Tropical Milkweed, Asclepias curassavica.

We do briefly talk about another native milkweed called Aquatic Milkweed, Asclepias perennis and how it did not go dormant this year. It is the only native milkweed (that I know of) that will no go dormant based on cool temperatures alone. In fact, it usually relies on water to flood it out for "dormancy". It also can be killed to the ground in a good freeze. We did not have either in our Seminole County landscape this year.

What does that mean for O.E. and monarchs? I'm not entirely sure. Everyone screams at Tropical Milkweed because of its year-round growth habit. But what about perennis? How does it play in the spread of O.E.

Off the top of my head, I would think that this means gardeners need to be extra careful on site selection of perennis. Avoid planting it outside of where it would be found growing in nature. I will find out more and make a stand alone post about it.

Until then, enjoy seeing your Swamp Milkweed come back and keep your fingers crossed you have enough for all the hungry cats.

See you................................

If you want to add native milkweed and other plants to your landscape, check out your local nursery. You can also check out our online store. Head over to the store using the menu or CLICK HERE.

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