Transplanting wild A. variegata 'White Milkweed'

[maryeleek]

I have discovered a small A. variegata milkweed while searching for wild milkweed leaves to feed my little cats.

It is growing in an open area near a new street. The soil has been recently graded so I feel this is a first year plant.

People who are familiar with the various milkweed have identified it as a variety that is difficult to find growing wild and have suggested I attempt to transplant it as it will be destroyed when the contruction workers return.

Has anyone successfully transplanted a wild Milkweed and if so, might you have some advice or suggestions on how to go about it? I realize it is difficult and dangerous to the wild plant and wouldn't attempt it except for the fact it is doomed if it remains where it is currently growing.

My thanks for any and all advice.

Mary

[drexel.n@gmail]

Does it have any seed pods? If so, save some before moving it.

I was very successful with transplanting some common milkweed earlier this year. It has quite a tap root and I feared the 2 I dug up would not make it, but both are doing well and I expect they will perform wonderfully next year.

Good luck!!

Nancy

[Mona Miller]

http://www.senecahillperennials.com/ind ... =asclepias
Asclepias variegata
Zone 4 ~ Height: to 60cm/2ft ~ Sun to part shade, average soil
Asclepiadophiles everywhere recognize this as the crème de la crème of the American milkweeds (pun intended). The full shining white flowers, each with a wine-colored ring at the base of the hood, crowd into luscious terminal umbels. In the wild it occurs in well-drained or somewhat dry woods and along roadsides, and we have had trouble getting it to persist in our relatively moist, fertile conditions. A correspondent in Arkansas writes "I have these milkweeds growing in partial shade, on a hillside, in the most stony, rocky, soil I have on my property. It's up toward the top of a hill. I do not baby any of them at all. They are on the worst soil I have and I completely ignore them. I don't even know how many I have. They have reseeded themselves." We suggest, therefore, that you grow them lean.

Apparently from my searches, it looks like it also has a taproot. Dig carefully and take as much as the taproot as possible. I usually put them into a pot and keep them in the shade and then transplant when they are out of shock.

[maryeleek]

My thanks for the comments and advice on transplanting this variety of milkweed. It's home and in the ground. Now I wait to see if it will come back next spring.

I was able to get a rootball about 15 inches across and approx 14 deep and keep it all together. Took me about an hour and a half as I worked carefully so as to disturb the root structure as little as possible. I planted it in a raised bed in native soil with no amendments, trying to keep things much as they were where I found it. The planting site will drain well and will get some sun and some dappled high shade scattered throughout the day.

There are two small stems on it and both have been nipped. Should I cut them back, attempt to take some and try some cuttings or just leave them as is to winter over. The stems are bare.

[Mona Miller]

Since it has rhizomes, it probably would not root from cuttings. The info I read said don't baby it. Most of the plants do well in poor soil in semi-shade to sun. I have not raised this variety.

[drexel.n@gmail]

I agree with Mona - just let it be. Water it if it gets too dry. That's the only thing I did with the 2 commons I transplanted. The small one did very well right off. The larger one died at the stem, but sent another shoot out about a month or so later. I can't wait to see them next spring! Best wishes with yours!

[maryeleek]

Just had to share this news with someone who might understand my excitement.

We had a hard rain most of the night following the transplanting, which is a wonderful treat for the plant.

This morning the soil had settled slightly and there are new shoots emerging from the base of both of the litte stalks! I will gently sprinkle a tiny bit of same soil over the top of the root ball, once the ground dries, to bring it back up to the level it is showing on the stems and then continue to watch. But what a wonderful surprise to see those new little sprouts forming! Christmas in September.

Before I could get time to go and dig it, I had carried water out to the field where I found it and watered it a couple of times, both times adding just a teaspoon of MG to the gal of water. I hoped this would allow it to build up some strength before the transplant. Have no idea if this helped but I'm sure excited to see those little sprouts.

Mary

[maryeleek]

UPDATE:

The little A. variegata I transplanted has lovely little leaves on the new stalks! I am so excited and just want to thank everyone again for their help in ID'ing the plant and helpful suggestions on how to transplant it.

Now, to see if it will produce a seed pod next year!

Mary