What is wrong with the milkweed?

[Chademr]

This year I have seen TONS of milkweed that looks all raggedy and wilted. When I say raggedy, I mean it just looks unhealthy. The top of the stems are green but as you go to the bottom of them they are spotted with brown dots, and eventually turn a solid brown/maroon color. Like I said I see alot of wilted leaves on them. Last year there were alot of plump green plants in this field. Now all I see is withered and diseased looking plants. I also see some plants that have leaves that look shrunken and have white stripes on them. It almost looks creepy. I have also noticed that all the milkweeds have purple flowers at the top. The ones that have the white striped do not though. I got into monarchs late last year. (Mid august) Is this just a cycle that milkweed plants go though? Do they all just die after they flower to be replaced by fresh new milkweed?

[flgflowers]

Hi Chademr

I have had the same problem in my butterfly garden this year. The plants didn't look bad in the spring but as summer came on they began to look really raggy. No blooms either. I wasn't sure if it was the drought we had been having here in central Fl or if the plants just need to be replaced. Maybe the plants can also get a disease. My plants are 3 years old and bloomed great the first 2 years.

Hopefully somebody out there may know what the problem is and can answer our questions.

[GBMonarch]

We've been having an extremely hot summer and some of my milkweed has the yellow leaves and spots. I've found that the plants that are able to get a bit of shade are doing better. I'm thinking it's the heat because I water all of them. Just a guess.