Curious if milkweed has emerged for everyone yet. My butterfly weed plants have ll emerged, but I had planted some common and swamp milkweed seedlings last year and I only see one at the moment in the area where I planted them last year (and I'm not sure which it is, lol). Should I assume the rest won't come back or do I still have time? |
Mine just came roaring back this week. I only have common now; my butterfly weed died a few years ago. I have to say, I’m so over my milkweed. It absolutely takes over and isn’t appropriate for a small yard. I need to plant butterfly weed again—it’s much better behaved. |
I planted 6 butterfly weed last year. Just 2 plants emerged thus far. |
Eek ok now you're scaring me lol. I've been trying to plant some more aggressive natives in part because otherwise the invasive weeds just take over. I also planted Packera for a similar reason. |
Yep, my milkweed is up! I just transferred it into a bed from a pot though, so I'm hoping it survives.
I ditched my butterfly bush in favor of natives. |
Some are up, some are not. Depends on how much sun they've been getting. |
Mine are coming up. Honestly I’m weeding it out. Should have pulled the roots last year. Previous owner planted it. And while I love it, it overtakes everything. Plus the oleander aphids ick me out. I let a few stems grow and cull the rest. |
I get it! I have almost all natives in my yard. The better spreaders are monarda (bee balm), echinacea, black-eyed Susan, and agastache. I think common milkweed is cool looking—just too aggressive. |
Last year, throughout the season, not even one monarch. Then suddenly, at the tail end, one lonely butterfly came and laid eggs on all the plants. I counted 12 plump ones.
As much as I have started to not like them very much, when the butterflies visit them, I appreciate them a lot. |
My swamp milkweed just came up this week. |
All mine are coming up now. The common milkweed and swamp milkweed are the biggest. |
It depends. Common milkweed is going gangbusters, but swamp milkweed, purple milkweed, and butterflyweed haven't come up yet.
Pro tip -- common milkweed does great with a Chelsea chop - cutting back hard on or around Memorial Day and July 4. I also stake mine as necessary. I know they can be overwhelming plants, but I'm not one to care about the manicured look, and they smell heavenly in flower and attract butterflies, so they have a place in my yard. https://backyardbounty.net/summer-loving-for-your-garden/ |
OP here- thanks for the tip! I give my asters a chop too so good to know I can with common milkweed as well! |
Common and swamp, yes. Butterfly weed, not really yet. Just starting to poke through. I find this to be a late starter every year. |
What does this mean? If I cull them back they won't not flower? |