Milkweed a perennial?

[Lindabird]

I just cut all of my milkweed down to about 4" from the ground. I have no idea if it will come back next year, or if I have to start at square one again. I didn't get any pods except for a couple of very small ones from a Tropical milkweed plant. They are so small there are no seeds inside of them.

I had to buy seeds off of Ebay this spring because I couldn't find them anywhere else. I didn't get them planted until late May/early June because of having to search for them.

I want to start planning for the spring so I won't get such a late start next year.

I do have some seed pods from some milkweed we found in a field. Should I save them until spring, or go ahead and get them in the ground now?

Any information would be helpful and appreciated.

Thank you!
Linda

[John Beaulieu]

Linda

Check out the Monarch Watch info on milkweeds at
http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/index.htm

If your milkweeds were native plants, they will come back, as they are perennials. The tropical milkweed will not survive freezing weather though.

John

[Jim]

I had to buy seeds off of Ebay this spring because I couldn't find them anywhere else.

You should have checked out Monarch Watch - we've had six varieties of milkweed seeds available all year in our Monarch Waystation Seed Kit (and they are currently on sale for 25% off):

http://www.monarchwatch.org/ws/seed_kit.html

http://shop.monarchwatch.org/product.aspx?p=125522

[Lindabird]

Thanks for the info! I always do things the hard way! Hopefully I'll be better prepared next year!

We tried to get a Monarch Waystation going at school this year, but we got started too late and didn't know what we were doing. Next year will be different.

Even though I didn't get my milkweed and flower seeds in the ground until late May/early June, I feel like it was a success. I raised over 250 Monarchs this year!

When I told some of my neighbors about what I was doing, they said they had noticed a LOT of butterflies in their yards this year!

Thanks for all your help!

Linda