Asclepias Species, Butterfly Milkweed, Butterflyweed for Clay

I have several of these planted in heavy clay. It took about 3 years to become established. They are now about 2 feet tall and I have ...Read Moremy first batch of Monarch caterpillars this year! They sometimes get aphids, however the ladybugs show up shortly after the aphids and have a feast. Trouble free plant for full blazing Texas sun. I will be planting more this fall!

I have not bought this plant; it was already growing on my site. But there's no doubt it's growing in heavy clay, and that it's happy, he...Read Morealthy and beautiful. I now have several of these in my vegetable garden, because I never eradicated them and the roots apparently survive below tilling depth. Also successfuly transplanted one into my flowerbed last year. So I can't say how it might compare to a non clay tolerant version. But I have saved seeds, which I could mail someone.

So far so good - this is the second year I've had this plant. I have it on a clay slope in one of the hottest driest spots in my yard. It...Read More has had no trouble at all with our heat and humidity and erratic winter weather. It has not yet bloomed as I think it needs to grow a bit first from the size you receive from the nursery. It has more stalks this year so I am thinking it might bloom later.

Edit: July 2010 this plant finally bloomed, 3 years after it was planted. It looks just like a regular asclepias tuberosa bloom and survived just fine with 3 days over 100 degrees and high humidity.