Where can I buy milkweed???

[aberlove17]

My neighbors gave me 2 chrysalis and one of them are becoming see-through and I dont know where to purchase Milkweed. Does anybody know where I can buy Milkweed In Ft. lauderdale FL??

[James Price]

If you have chrysalises, you don't need to rush out and buy milkweed, because the adult butterflies don't eat milkweed, only the caterpillars do. The butterflies want nectar, and there are lots of common plants that can provide that.

In Florida, you can grow tropical milkweeds that will attract egg-laying females if you want to grow the whole life cycle.

[MILW]

You want seeds? I'll have tons of A. syriaca seeds in a month or so- I'm sure I can mail you a packet if you send your address... in fact I probably have some leftover MonarchWatch seed packets from this spring still sitting in the fridge

PM your address and I'll send you a gift!
cheers- scott

[RozieMozie]

hay u rock! ... ty

[Josee]

Hi, I'm new to this forum.
I am planning on making a butterfly garden next summer - we are getting rid of an above ground pool and deck which will be replaced by a hot tub and a bigger garden. Already, I see a few butterflies, including monarch in my yard and birds. I don't have any milkweed and can't find it locally but have plenty of perrannual - we removed all the grass in the back yard and already have echinacea, black eye susan, yarrow, echinops, sage, nepeta, mint, lavender, sedum (several variety) hostas (lots...) etc....
Are there any plants I should avoid ? or remove if I already have them?
Regarding milkweeds, will the variety sold on this site grow well for the Ottawa area ? Ottawa (particularly Orleans) is renowned for it's clay soil so I know I will have to ammend the soil.

Thank you

Josee

[freda]

Josee, you are in the middle of milkweed heaven! I’ve collected milkweed pods from the roadsides around Ottawa for years when I was doing a lot of crafts. LOTS of milkweed. You may have to just familiarize yourself with what the plant looks like and start digging! I’m so excited for you having a ‘blank canvas’ for a yard and the chance to head for the country and move some plants in for the butterflies. You could well be the biggest producer on this site, with some work. We live in Kenora, Ontario but have spent a lot of time in Ottawa over the years. This time of year, mid-August and on, you should be seeing the huge pods bursting with big, fluffy seeds all around you. You could collect the seeds, but personally I’d dig up some plants in early spring as soon as they begin to show up. I’ve found that there’s a pretty small window of time when the plants transplant well and early spring when they’re about 6” high is a great time. Just watch for the beautiful dry seed pods and you’ll find new plants and probably lots of eggs, too! Have fun! AND you shouldn't have to amend the soil...look at the stuff they're growing in on the roadside.

[freda]

We were in the Toronto, Grimsby area a few weeks ago and saw lots of roadside plants, mostly where the mowing machines couldn't reach. The mowed areas seemed to have been recently cropped and I found lots of places where there had indeed, been mature milkweed prior to the mowing.

Locally (200 km), I have picked some seed pods and will scatter them on our summer property. It's an island with no close neighbours so it shouldn't affect anyone else. However, the most success I've had is by digging up the plants early in the year and moving them to a new area for them to take over.

My plants which were in small pots, I’ve moved to larger containers and will let them freeze for the winter, protected by snow. I hope to bring them inside in early April to get a head start on leaf production.