A new, deep red form of Asclepias curassavica or “Butterfly Milkweed”. Super EASY to grow, very branching to 30” tall and topped Spring thru Summer with long-lasting, 3-4” clusters of scarlet flowers. Monarch butterflies can sense these plants a mile away and use them to lay their eggs on. Soon you will see very cool, rapidly growing, yellow, black and white striped caterpillars munching on the leaves. Next, they’ll form their stunning chrysalises ringed around the top with dots of glistening gold. Two weeks later and voila! Butterflies! Mother Nature will smile on you. Average to rich soil is good. Not fussy about watering and rather drought tolerant. Deer resistant, too!
USE OF BT UPDATE:
We are pleased to announce that the California Department of Agriculture has recently lifted its requirement that our nursery use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), as a naturally occurring biological insecticide (also commonly used on organically grown fruits and vegetables), as control against LBAM (Light Brown Apple Moth) within the State of California. As a result we are no longer using BT in our nursery. Bt was known to be toxic to caterpillars, particularly the Monarch butterfly caterpillar, which is why we had always advised our customers to wait a growing season (or approximately one year) before introducing Monarch caterpillars to any Asclepia (Milkweed) plants to ensure the plants are large enough to provide sufficient food and the BT has had time to wear off.
**To protect Monarchs from infectious parasites, cut back your Asclepias currasavica in late Fall. This will also promote a healthier plant next season.