Home | 30 Milkweed Plants: List to Attract Monarchs and More | Calotropis Gigantea, Calotropis gigantea: Crown Flower, Giant Calotrope, Giant Milkweed, Gigantic Swallow-wort. I have not seen monarchs or other butterflies sip nectar from the large blooms, though I have seen bees around it. These clusters are called umbels. The blooms are brilliant orange or yellow. Im going to try the hydrogen peroxide therapy. Or fastest delivery Apr 6 - 7. Hard to find calotropis gigantia around several neighborhoods as most people that I knew had them dug them out. Thank you, Tony. Please let me know if this is true. I bought two purple crown plants which i repotted into bigger clay pots. It often receives monarch eggs and caterpillars in our northern US garden. I recently read an article from UF that noted a correlation between non native Florida species of milkweeds and deformed butterflies. Thanks, Conni. Always a big problem here. They provide many food opportunities for monarch caterpillars and their cousins, the queen and soldier caterpillars, which always seem to go unmentioned in the butterfly world. how to send picture? I have seen the seeds and flowers but have not found any butterflies or caterpillars in it. New Vegetable Gardener --- Irrigation and Fertilizer (Getting a Little Technical), https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/milkweed.html, https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/orange/home-lawns-landscapes-and-gardens/florida-friendly-landscaping/. I took each cutting and whittled off the outer skin with a sharp knife. Sonia Altizer. Giant Milkweed aka Crown Flower. Monarch butterflies spend their lives migrating from Canada and the United States to Mexico - some . If you are a plant vendor who sells native plants, milkweed species, and refrains from using . They have grown taller but not giving me new leaves. Looking to start at least 5 more plants. Ill be sure to post an update on our plant this summer. Giant milkweed is a hardy tough plant that can tolerate the hot sun and sandy soil in Florida. Barbara Keller-Willy encourages gardeners to plant . Good luck and keep us posted! I saw many of these (I think it was gigantea, not procera) growing in Gujarat and Punjab India, In Gujarat almost every plant had the larvae (cats) of the Tiger Butterfly, which is in the same genus as the Monarch. Click on the carousel image to display a larger version (if available). Not sure how long it takes for a plant grown from seed to produce flowers. Plants & Diseases Plant Identifier Plant problems Flowers: lavender purple/white or all white. Common Milkweed is the species most people think of when they hear the name milkweed. It is 3 feet from a east window, the room is usually in the 60s and it gets very little sun. But, not all milkweeds are made alike. This may seem like a crazy question if youre just getting started with native gardening. The leaf blades are light to dark green with . I live in SW Florida. Click Buy it now or Add to cart and proceed to checkout. Calotropis gigantea, commonly called crown flower or giant milkweed, is a large shrub or small tree that is native to India, southern China, Malaysia and Indonesia, but has been extensively cultivated in tropical areas around the world. Hi Dorhugs, you could always try cutting back your plants and then use tip 4 on plants and soil: Hi! 138 people already have this plant By spring, youll have an easier time finding cuttings and/or plants: I just got one of these from my local nursery and it appears to be healthy and ready to grow- already lots of flowers on it. (15% off), Sale Price $1.99 The pesky buggers that bother my crown flower are spider mites and mealybugs! Giant Milkweed Calotropis gigantea 10" inch pot FREE Shipping East Coast and Central States 5 out of 5 stars (1.5k) Sale Price $71.99 $ 71.99 $ 89.99 Original Price $89.99 . It is native to Asia and tropical Africa. Common Milkweed does best in well-drained areas but isnt picky about soil and can be grown in clay, loamy, or sandy areas. Marketers of Tropical Milkweed seeds will use the names Mexican Milkweed, Bloodflower, Mexican Butterfly Weed, Mexican Orange Milkweed, and Semi-Tropical Milkweed. So can anyone advise about where these like to be planted? (40% off), $3.98 Similar to the issues with tropical milkweed: some of the nursery plants Ive gotten look fine at the nursery and after 2 or 3 days the leaves start to look somewhat diseased: spot, fuzzy looking excetera almost like mildew. Try planting one directly in the ground and see if it grows more foliage compared to the container plant. Giant Milkweed, Crown Flower, Giant Calotrope, Swallow-wort: Family: Apocynaceae: USDA hardiness: 10-12: Known Hazards: The sap (latex) is somewhat poisonous[ 302 ]. Weve always got so many caterpillars and not enough food for them. Im not aware of any vendors that currently sell this. They have nice plants here and we are taking one home. Any suggestions? The first sightings in Rockport, Tx were on March 4 th and in Houston, Spring, and Rosenberg sightings were reported from the second week of March until recently. I am a snowbird and will be heading home to Canada in a few weeks and I am not sure if I should trim the tops of the milkweed tree to allow for growth and to ensure they dont fall during high winds. Heres more info about monarch diseases: 7 Common Monarch Diseases and caterpillar Killers. Dont see this option? Im concerned about it spreading. (50% off). The milkweed is the only plant on which monarch butterflies will lay their eggs and caterpillars feed. Monarch larvae can ingest the OE parasite by eating infected milkweed plants, crippling them as adults. Common names include Giant milkweed, Sodom's Apple, Dead Sea Apple, Rooster Tree, Rubber Bush and Milkweed tree. I switch my pillars all the time and have never had an issue. It was completely stripped, and although I hoped it would come back, it did not I will buy another one next time they are available, and make sure it doesnt get eaten up completely. Dont know if this is the height of the season, the winter has been pretty mild, but the cats seem happy! Here are some recommended species from Dr. Jaret Daniels: Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata. By Lizzie Wade. It is native to Asia and tropical Africa. Native Landscaping Certification Classes B-B-B-Bird Is The Word! Weird. Zone 10-11 plant will like special treatment in colder zones during winter. This species thrives in wet, mucky clay soils. Monarch Butterflies and other insects consume milkweed and store the compounds in their bodies. So if youre looking for a plant for the wet spot in your yard, Swamp Milkweed is a perfect choice. When not in bloom, it easily blends in among grasses. This non-native milkweed plant has become popular in recent years because of its flowers bright red coloring and how easy it is to plant and maintain. Hi Britt, Im not sure there are pollinators here for C. giganteaI havent seen any in our garden. Typically, orders of $35 USD or more (within the same shop) qualify for free standard shipping from participating Etsy sellers. Hi Joyceann, if you are just getting started I recommend the post I linked below on starting your butterfly garden. sorry to hear youre experiencing more issues with monarch disease. Hi Nathalie, Im not sure where youre located but most people in the US report no seeding with gigantea. The tallest stem is shy of 2 feet tall. I also lived in Hawaii and now live in Eastvale (near corona). Hi! If you havent seen this post before check it out: Overwintering Tropical Butterfly Plants Indoors. Giant Milkweed is also known as Crown Flower and scientifically known as Calotropis gigantea. It is native to Asia and tropical Africa. Purple Milkweed thrives in full sun and will spread by seeds and underground rhizomes. However, this species does not tolerate shade and should be planted in full sun with dry, sandy soil. My crown plants are looking quite bare. Ours did not grow well in rich soil either so we moved it to a container with better drainage and added more perlite to the soil. I noticed it had flower buds which should not happen to a 1st year plant much less in winter. (50% off), Sale Price $9.99 35 people have added this plant to their wishlists. Giant milkweed is a hardy tough plant that can tolerate the hot sun and sandy soil in Florida. Jack-E, i've had my Gigantea for a couple years now and monarchs are in the garden all the time, but . It can be grown in full sun or partial shade. Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. Thanks!! Thanks for the information! The flowers are fragrant and attract various nectar-seeking insects, including Monarchs and many other butterflies. Original Price $1.50 we live in the East part of San Diego, zone is 10a 0r 10b. As Vicki from Tampa writes, cats like tropical milkweed and native milkweed better than the tough leaves of calotropis, but Ill continue to grow it for its beauty. Cuttings have really been a game changer for raising and make the process so much easier with less wasted milkweed. It did have the fungus, but with dedicated spraying and severe cutback, and collecting the dropped leaves from the ground, the leaves are nice and healthy now. There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. My husband and I are just getting into the butterfly garden scene, Im retired he soon will be, in a few years. Aloha Marcia, Kailua, Oahu is zone 11a for future reference. It started with the best of intentions. I barely know what I am doing but I will say the cats are devouring the Giant Milkweed, it might be one of a few types here in Hawaii, so maybe they cant afford to be picky. All parts of the plant contain toxic cardiac glycosides, which can cause nausea, diarrhea, weakness, and confusion in small amounts, and seizures, heart rhythm changes, respiratory paralysis, and even death in large amounts. There are tinges of purple at the base, which is why this perennial is also called Redring Milkweed. Found you site by searching for answers to MW disease problems. I want plant them. Check out these directions for rootingtheyre pretty much the same, but I used all purpose potting soil along with some extra perlite. Im sitting at Butterfly World in Coconut Creek right now. Perennial: USDA hardiness zones 10-11 (lows -1.1 C or 30 F), Native to Africa, China, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Height: 8 to 10 feet for a large shrub or small treetaller in tropical zones, Spacing: at least 6 feet, 8 for perennials, Flowers: lavender purple/white or all white, Constant bloomsthroughout the season when starting with mature plants, Large, thick leaves can sustain more monarch caterpillars, Great option for adventurous gardeners looking to try something new, Not enough data from North America growers monitor for potentialissues. Called a local nursery and they confirmed the opinion. Milkweed gets its name from the latex or milky white secretions produced if the stem or leaves are broken. This was sold at a local nursery here in Central Florida. Wow, fantastic information. Its great for planting around ponds or streams on your property. The flowers are different. Will my plant die? Thinking about ripping these out because its sad to watch them struggle and die. Compared to other varieties, it has a narrow stem and spiky leaves arranged in a spiral pattern. 5 plants later plus 1 in the ground we bring in baby cats and release the butterflies when they metamorphose then emerge. Hello! Our guest speaker Erin Mills is the current Director of the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Hi Rich, thats fantastic if they are able to survive their life cycle in your garden. This species is relatively easy to grow from seed. Its also a host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. I just replanted it yesterday and discovered that it had developed essentially no new root system. The flowers are white or yellow-green with a purple tinge. The light pink, purple, or white flowers of Swamp Milkweed will attract various species of native bees and butterflies to your garden. I have managed to keep it alive but it has been a struggle. If the plant gets damaged from wind or cold temperatures, it can quickly rebound and regenerate itself. And once I started doing that I had fewer butterflies born with deformities several that didnt make it to their fourth or fifth instar. I grow a lot of plants from seed so I am not a amateur but I cant explain this one. You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address. This makes it less appealing to Monarchs and other moths and butterflies as a host plant than other species. I keep the plant in the worst possible conditions. They will readily eat them then. I ended up with a pile of pieces from about 1 to 3 long. My message is dont baby this plant, it is a weed! 13 Jan 2015. Its essential never to use pesticides on these plants since they kill species like Monarch Butterflies. Written by Amy Barton on September 2, 2015. It produces a beautiful, rounded cluster of bright purple flowers. Medium-dry to dry soil is best. I have a Calotropis gigantea: Its about 5 feet tall. Hi Krishan, you will have to keep checking the links on the page to see if someone on amazon/ebay might have it. Im surprised they come back as a perennial because its current about 12 degrees here so I dont believe Im in the plans regular hardiness zone. The cats love it. I will post about whether that seeds this season. Spacing: at least 6 feet, 8 for perennials. Lightly scented blooms. We have lost 90% of the monarch population in the last 25 years. It didnt get much water, and grew in very hard soil, (in Southern California), so I took some branches, rooted them, grew it and am enjoying caterpillars and Monarch butterflies! im interested in planting some seeds but wanted to check with you first. Please advice me. Our C. procera responded well to slow release fertilizer. Has anyone else experienced this? All You should know about Giant Milkweed (Calotropis Gigantea) > how to care and characteristics PlantIn Our best expert are here for your plants! It is tolerant of light shade but does best in areas that receive full sun. Sellers looking to grow their business and reach more interested buyers can use Etsys advertising platform to promote their items. Absolutely! It is native to Asia and tropical Africa. Please. Giant Milkweed for Monarch Caterpillars. I am surprised to hear it is spreading in your region. If the plant gets damaged from wind or cold temperatures, it can quickly rebound and regenerate itself. Recently this journey has become more treacherous and less successful due to habitat loss, illegal logging, widespread use of pesticides, livestock raising, and deforestation. Sow it in areas with well-drained sandy or rocky soil for best results. Its suitable for zones 9 11 as it will get damaged by below freezing temperatures. Never had seen it or there was nothing planted in this area thru the years. Whats the best to to grow my supply of crown flower? White Milkweed is adaptable to many climates but does best in sandy or rocky, well-drained soil. The leaves are gone and I want to know the proper way to take cuttings to root new plants. I was also given a couple of little branches, and they are doing very well, Just stuck them in some potting soil and kept them moist. Transplant being sure the plant will never have wet feet. Im not sure how it will like our shortened growing season in Minnesota, so you might want to try that one for yourself. This species is a host for Monarch, Queen, and Soldier Butterfly caterpillars which eat the plants leaves. Butterfly Weed is an excellent choice for gardens and or wildflower meadows. Annual in colder zones with overwintering. 6 of 12 7 of 12. They all die. Ive set it in the pot under and oak tree for a few weeks and its seems fine there- but its time to commit and figure out where to plant it- I have a lot of full sun locations, but being SW FL its HOT, and I really dont want to kill this plant, Ive never found one before and I may not find another. Zizotes milkweed on special this week, along with some nice blooming nectar plants. Fill out the requested information. Butterfly Weed also does fine without any fertilization but grows best in rocky or sandy soil. Nor did whether the stem was still green wood or old brown wood. Consider adding it to the back layer of your butterfly garden. Some people say to let the milk drain before doing anything with it. I never wanted to prune it because there are always so many cats on it, but its a little out of control. Original Price $5.99 Common Milkweed can spread by seed, or underground rhizomes, which are root colonies. Over the years Ive also noticed that tropical milkweed seems to grow better (lush, full leaves) in partial shade. Keep in shade for 4 weeks and be sure the soil stays wet, but not standing water. The sun provides light.   United States   |   English (US)   |   $ (USD). My first giant crown plant just arrived from Florida. Hi Janet, even if you cut off seed pods, some varieties will spread through underground rhizomes. The blooms of the Common Milkweed plant are clusters of tiny flowers on stems that radiate from the larger central stem. Move to sun but keep in pots for another month. Its very drought tolerant and can be grown in a wide range of soils. Stem was still green wood or old brown wood into bigger clay pots hi Britt, im not how! Spend their lives migrating from Canada and the United States & nbsp United States & nbsp United &. Eastvale ( near corona ) foliage compared to other varieties, it can be in! 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