Swamp Milkweed - zone 7b - when does it break dormancy?

[maryeleek]

Would anyone have any idea when the Swamp Milkweed breaks dormancy in zone 7b?

They lost their leaves and died back to the soil line last fall. I assume they will put up little green stalks this spring. This is my first year growing Swamp Milkweed and I have no idea when to expect the plants to break dormancy. I realize it will have a lot to do with the weather. Just wonder if they show signs of life in early spring or sometime later in the season?

My thanks,

Mary

[Mona Miller]

I think it depends on its location. I've had plants in black plastic pots in full sun come up before the plants in the ground in full sun. I know I haven't seen common milkweed up before mid May. You have to wait for the ground to warm up. I have some swamp milkweed in partial shade. I'll keep an eye on it and let you know. I think I am about 7a or b in Herndon, VA.

I'm not loving the cold winter we are having on the east coast. Snow has been forecast for the weekend.

[Pixie]

Hi Mary ........I am in west St. Louis County, MO, & I believe in the same zone. Some of my swamp milkweed begin poking through at the end of March - always a wonderful feeling as I then know our new season is beginning!

Dottie

[dandjtaylor]

Pixie

I looked at my garden journal from last year and had all of my swamp M/W poking up early April. We were plucking and storing leaves already in mid May. I am in Salem, MA (6b) right on the ocean.

Dwayne

[Mona Miller]

Why were you storing leaves? How were you storing leaves?

[dandjtaylor]

Mona

Due to the large number of caterpillars I expected, and the slow start due to the wet weather, I would pluck and store leaves in vacuum sealed ziploc's in the fridge. THey keep, if not too wet, for a couple of weeks.

I pluck leaves of the swamp M/W whenever a bud is present. A new branch then grows from the bud. By mid-summer, my swamp milweeds are more like bushes than the traditional swamp M/W of clusters of single stalks. My swamp stalks actually get very woody and strong from doing this. It sounds tedious, but since I am looking for eggs anyway, I spot the buds and take the leaves were buds exist.

So the less I have to rely on wild, and potentially infected leaves, the better. Toward the end last year, I was still running low on leaves as we were feeding several hundred cats per day. I have added another 16 common and 24 purple milkweeds to the yard for this year.

Dwayne

[maryeleek]

My thanks to all who took the time to reply. It does sound like Swamp Milkweed begins to show green fairly early in the spring. Yea, can hardly wait to actually watch the plants develop and maybe, just maybe, I'll see a bloom this year.

So excited to plant for the butterflies this year as I now know the mama's WILL lay eggs around here. Just need to have plenty of food growing for the babies (unlike last year)

Spring is getting close. Our last frost date is less than 7 weeks away now!

Happy planting to all.

Mary

[Mona Miller]

It's hard to think of spring with over 3 ft. of snow and more coming on Monday. But, soon I will start flats of tropical milkweed. I have many natives, but the tropicals last longer in the fall and provide more toxins (protection) for the butterflies.

I used large tubs last year and they worked great.


See the tub and tote


This is does not include today's storm, which dumped another foot.

[drexel.n@gmail]

I just checked my phenology page (usanpn.org). I began entering information on April 13 of last year and on that date, both my butterfly milkweed and swamp milkweed were growing. In Cincinnati, I am in Zone 6a.

Mona - I agree that with over 8 inches of snow on the ground, it's hard to think of spring, but the days are getting noticeably longer and I know it's coming. I, too, am going to begin tropical milkweed seeds soon. I'm getting really excited!

n.

[Mona Miller]

The Monarchs are really going to need our help this year. 1.92 hectares in the colony and already they've had to endure some pretty bad weather. I hope and pray the rest of February/March are a lot more calm--for the butterflies and the people of that area.

[maryeleek]

Mona,

I have tropical milkweed I overwintered setting buds so I'll have some blooms ready for the first little beauties this year, not to mention the shiny green leaves beckoning to mama Monarch! A few of my swamp milkweed is beginning to show the first bits of green poking up through the soil and I have some common mw I started late last fall in six packs that will be ready to hit the road running once the nights warm up enough to put it out in the big pots. That plant produces such BIG leaves, it's going to be my food backup this year.

For nectar plants, I purchased a few old fashioned Pentas last fall on closeout at the local nursery and they're going to be one of my main nectar plants this spring. I rooted some cuttings from them and with the mama plants, I have quite a few to plant out as soon as the nights warm up a bit. You all have taught me well and I'm READY (unlike last year).

Spring, start your engines ...

Mary

[Mona Miller]

Early nectar sources can be as simple as dandelions. Pentas are a good nectar source, too. I wintered over some tropical milkweed as cuttings this year and they also are setting blooms. I'm having to battle the aphids. Our snow is almost gone, but I still have a few piles of it in my yard.

Usually, I stop by a local nursery and see what's blooming around the end of April. We've had so many businesses close due to the economy--I hope they are still there. William's Greenhouses located near the Costco in Sterling. It is located off Cascades Pkwy. South. Maries road across from Claude Moore Park. Take care when traveling down that road because part of it is gravel and sometimes it washes out and leaves large holes. This nursery is not in the phone book. If you live in the area, stop by and check them out.

[sbannister]

I am in Zone 8b. This year, thanks to El Nino, I have not seen a butterfly since I think November. We usually have them almost all year. I covered most of my tropical milkweed as in previous years for freezes, but it was still too cold and it all has died back to the ground. I now have a few tiny leaves sprouting from the bottoms. I mail ordered 9 bareroots of the same plant but they are not doing anything yet. As to nectar, I am letting the flowering weeds grow in my lawn and have a beautiful display of violas & pansies which butterflies are not crazy about. I have seeds planted also and my other perennials should be coming back soon.

Long story short, I hope the migration is a little delayed so my waystation will be a little more prepared. This is the first year it has been this cold since I have been butterfly gardening. I can now truly sympathize with those north of me who always have winters like this.

Good news, though. I saw a skipper yesterday!

[Mona Miller]

There are several Fritillaries who use pansies and violas as host plants. No milkweed up here, yet. I have pots full of dead stems from last year's tropical milkweeds. I will replant soon in the same pots with new soil on the top and probably use remay (garden cloth) on the top to protect the seeds from the birds and weather.