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ButterflyBushes.com Milkweed Plants |
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Milkweed plants (Asclepias) are the
host plants for Monarch butterflies...but milkweed is also a highly sought nectar
source for many other butterfly species! Aside from attracting Monarch
butterflies for egg-laying, milkweed entices swallowtails, painted ladies,
American ladies, red admirals, fritillaries, and hairstreaks for nectaring.
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We ship milkweed plants from
May through October. |
We Ship
Plants from May through October:
Milkweed Plants are shipped in 3" to 4"
pots or nursery liners.
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Tropical
Milkweed (also known as Bloodflower)(Asclepias curassavica) A South American native, Tropical Milkweed grows 30"-36" high and produces clusters of bright yellow or yellow-orange bi-colored flowers (sorry, no choice of flower color). Highly utilized by Monarch butterflies for egg-laying. Used as a nectar source by many other butterfly species and also by hummingbirds. Plant in full sun and treat as an annual. Save the seeds this fall and start them yourself next year (this milkweed is easy to grow from seed). Shipped in 3" pots, our plants will likely be blooming by late July...and once they begin to bloom, they should bloom profusely until frost. Deer resistant. These plants will not likely be ready for shipping until the beginning of June. If your order includes Tropical Milkweed, your entire order will be held until the Tropical Milkweed is ready to ship. 8 plants for $20.00 |
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Swamp Milkweed, pink or white flowering (Asclepias incarnata) Clusters of small pink or white flowers on plants which grow 30"-40" high. Swamp Milkweed usually grows in moist areas (but it does not require a moist location in the garden). Usually blooming June thru July, this plant serves as a nectar source for several butterfly species and as a host plant for Monarchs. Sorry, no choice of flower color. Deer resistant. Perennial, zones 3-8. $4.00 each |
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Yellow-flowering
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa 'Hello Yellow') Same as above, but with yellow flowers. We purchased these plants from an outside source so we can not guarantee that they will produce yellow flowers. Our source however, insures us that the flowers will be yellow. Deer resistant. Perennial, zones 3-8. Temporarily Sold Out. |
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Purple
Milkweed(Asclepias purpurascens) A native to much of the eastern half of the USA, Purple Milkweed generally grows 30" - 48" high and blooms late June through July. Its foliage resembles that of Common Milkweed but its flowers are a brighter rose-pink. Purple Milkweed is utilized as a nectar source by hummingbirds and also by many butterfly species. Also used as a host plant by Monarch butterflies. Deer resistant. Drought tolerant. Our plants for 2008 are quite nice! Perennial, zones 3-9. Most likely sold out for 2008. Please check back in late May. If we have some still available, a shopping cart button will allow you to order. |
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Common
Milkweed(Asclepias syriaca) A native to much of the eastern USA, Common Milkweed generally grows to about 48" high and blooms late June through July. Our plants are small this year but they should reach mature size next summer. Common Milkweed is utilized as a nectar source by hummingbirds and also by many butterfly species. Also used as a host plant by Monarch butterflies. Shipped in 3" pots. Deer resistant. Perennial, zones 3-9. May be available in August, 2008. |
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Milkweed is essential for the
existence of Monarch butterflies.
A Monarch butterfly is pictured at the top
of this page. Adult Monarchs (and many other butterfly species) love
nectar-rich milkweed as a food source, but there is a more important reason for
the Monarch's close attachment to milkweed. Milkweed is the only plant material
that Monarch caterpillars can eat. Remove Monarch caterpillars from milkweed and
they will starve; or they will eat other plant material, sicken, and then die. The scientific name for milkweed is
Asclepias (pronounced
as-KLEE-pea-us).
Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) is well known to most
northeasterners.
It
grows along roadsides, in fields, and in open meadows. Producing
sweet smelling mauve-pink flowers late June through July, common milkweed
usually matures at about 48" high. Some people assume common milkweed to be
the only milkweed species which exists. Actually, over 100 species of
Asclepias grow in the USA, with over 200 different species growing worldwide.
Common milkweed is not the only Asclepias species which can be
utilized as a food source for the monarch caterpillar. In reality, any Asclepias
serves the purpose, although some species lure more egg-laying female monarchs
than others.
Among the Asclepias species highly utilized by female monarchs for
egg-laying are Asclepias curassavica (tropical milkweed, an
annual) and Asclepias
incarnata
(swamp milkweed). Both are now offered on this page.
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And if you would like to see
pictures (arranged sequentially) that show the life stages of a monarch
butterfly, check out our article on
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Two ways to order: (1) Utilize our on-line shopping cart or (2) print our online order form, fill it
out, and then mail it to us, along with your check or money order. Some of the features of our online
shopping cart fail to work correctly with some Internet Service Providers.
If you have problems using our shopping cart, please print our order form,
fill it out, and then mail it to us. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Quantities are limited
on some of our nursery stock. Plants will be reserved to fill orders in the
sequence in which orders are received. Please order at your earliest convenience
to avoid disappointment. Please do not order plants which are not currently
posted with a picture, plant description, and price.
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Rose Franklin's
Perennials (814) 422-8968 Email: RoseFranklin@aol.com |
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Copyright © 2002-2007. [Rose Franklin's Perennials]. All rights
reserved.
Revised: May 01, 2008