The Butterfly Milkweed plant is certainly one of the most beautiful wildflowers in North America. Its beauty comes not only from its appearance but also from its fragrance. The plant that most people think of is A. Syriaca or the common plant.
The Bloom Of Butterfly Milkweed
The Butterfly Milkweed blooms out in a star-spangled banner-type display. At the top of the stem is a myriad of tiny flowers colored in a watercolor-like light purple. They also bloom in most other colors of the spectrum. The plant is blooming in yellow, orange, green, and pink. To propagate themselves, these plants develop a seed pod that dries and then splits open to spread hundreds of seeds in the fall.
Benefits Of Planting Butterfly Milkweed
Depending on the type of plant, it can grow from 2 to 5 feet in height. It grows in zones 3 to 9. This plant attracts the usual pollinating insects, such as bees, hummingbirds, and especially Monarch butterflies. Monarch butterflies love this plant because it is their main food source and also supplies a secure place for the female to spread her eggs, mostly on the underside of the leaves.
Caring For The Butterfly Milkweed
These plants are fast spreading, giving them plenty of room in your garden. They like from 6 to 8 hours of sunshine. A good place in the garden is where they are protected from the wind so that you can control the spread of the seeds. This helps prevent the plant from taking over your garden. This also provides a haven for the Monarchs.
Most Butterfly Milkweed plants do well in just about any soil. The exception is the Swamp weed, which requires moist and humus soil. Plant them in a well-cultivated flowerbed that has been worked to a fine mix. Add the recommended amount of fertilizer for an average soil mix. There is no genuine special care for the soil. Sow the seeds and tamp the soil. Water the flower bed and wait.