Armchair botanizing for Extreme Milkweeds (Asclepias)

[Hoy]

When I get the chance I'll try some of these "Extreme Milkweeds"! No problem getting sand  clay is difficult to find here.

[cohan]

Trond, if only we were close enough to do a swap..... no sand here at all, nor gravel (there are random deposits in the area, but all on private land, and not ours!)... I'll have to buy some

[Hoy]

Trond, if only we were close enough to do a swap..... no sand here at all, nor gravel (there are random deposits in the area, but all on private land, and not ours!)... I'll have to buy some

Should be cheaper to buy than mail some

[cohan]

Trond, if only we were close enough to do a swap..... no sand here at all, nor gravel (there are random deposits in the area, but all on private land, and not ours!)... I'll have to buy some

Should be cheaper to buy than mail some

Lol--Yes, not sure about your mail rates, and I have not yet checked truckload prices for gravel, but I suspect it would not be a very large package of soil/sand here that would cost as much to mail as a truckload locally...lol--
my problem is they will probably have to drive at least 60km round trip, and I am going to have to pay for that time/mileage...

[McDonough]

Came across some good photos of two more western American milkweeds:

Asclepias asperula:
http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Brown%20Green%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/asclepias%20asperula.htm

Asclepias involucrata  (syn: macrosperma), notice in the first link the compact A. tuberosa only growing 17-18" tall:
http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Yellow%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/asclepias.htm
http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=asin14_001_ahp.tif
...large image:
http://plants.usda.gov/gallery/pubs/asin14_002_pvp.jpg
...dwarf white-flowered plant image from CalPhotos, taken in New Mexico:
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0604+0305
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0604+0306

[Lori S.]

Those are exotic beauties, Mark.  I've never found the more moisture-loving native species to do very well for me, so perhaps these more dryland species might be worth a try.

[Tim Ingram]

I've wanted to grow some of these more choice asclepias for years without too much success. But after a few years wait I have at last got flowers on A. vestita and the combination of woolly foliage and those extraordinary pink and yellowish flowers is amazing! I shall now definitely persevere with some of the smaller species - I have viridis and asperula on a raised bed, and will do a little more armchair botanising to follow Mark's example and learn more of these plants.

[Hoy]

I am jealous, Tim! The only "Asclepias" I grow is a weed, it isn't even a real milkweed (Vincetoxicum rossicum) - and the slugs don't like it either

[McDonough]

Way cool extreme milkweed there Tim! Congratulations.  I really want to grow some of these.  Let us know if the flowers are fragrant, so many Asclepias species are richly perfumed.

Next weekend I'll be vacationing for my 32nd wedding anniversary at a B&B (Bed & Breakfast) in central Vermont, and last time I was there many years ago, there alongside a river's edge were lots of A. virticllata in fine bloom, a smallish elegant species with refined linear foliage like that of Amsonia hubrectii or A. lettermanii and crisp white flowers, to see it is to want it. I will have to remember to pack a trowel  

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Asclepias+verticillata
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=30910
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=31487
...look at this seed catalog page, and the awesome upright pods in the last image (click the "Images" tab)
http://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-forbs/asclepias-verticillata-whorled-milkweed/?cat=249&from_search=Y

[RickR]

Tim, does the wool mean it is not a moisture lover?

[Tim Ingram]

That is a delicate beauty Mark, and makes me want to try these plants even more. And yes, A.vestita is nicely scented up close - I hadn't noticed until your comment. My wife is a good artist and these would make beautiful subjects.

Trond - I've seen a Vincetoxicum species at Wisley in the autumn with superb autumn colour. I can imagine the slugs would leave these plants alone with their milky sap.

Rick - we are growing it in relatively dry sandy soil in a south facing border next to the greenhouse. I've assumed it is not a moisture lover (compared to some of the more vigorous species that are), but we also grow speciosa, again very woolly foliage, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that this does prefer more moisture? I do need to learn more about them in the wild and presumably verticillata, for example, does grow in damper soil?

[cohan]

All beauties, Mark and tim- I don't think I've seen a milkweed I didn't like Alplains has quite a few dryland forms available, I've yet to try, but they are on my 'list' as are some more woodland/edge types Kristl sells.. remains to be seen whether my moist or drier areas will be more effective..
None of the native ones make it to my area that I've seen..

happy anniversary, Mark!

[McDonough]

Thanks Cohan.

Regarding milkweeds (Asclepias) one has to be careful with some species, such as Asclepias syriaca found through much of North America except the Western States and Canadian Provinces, a plant that is considered weedy or invasive.  Some species can spread by long underground rhizome, and to eradicate the plant, it requires pulling the incessant sprouting shoots at first sign, for a good number of years until the rhizomes give up. 

Asclepias syriacus is abundant here; I like having the plant at the fringes of the yard for the attractive flower globes, intricate florets, and incredibly sweet fragrance, but NEVER EVER let a seedling take hold in the garden, as it will take years of constant pulling of shoots to weaken the perennating rhizomes.  I doubt there is need of similar caution on the many choice Western American dryland species.

[cohan]

I presume syriaca is the species I saw regularly as a 'wild' plant in downtown Toronto, it was a great fave of mine, and I wouldn't even mind having to pull out excess plants
A speciosa and ovalifolia both occur in Alberta, though just outside my area, but not by that much... A viridiflora is only reported in the extreme south of the province...

[RickR]

In Minnesota, this photo shows the thickest stand of Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) I've seen in the true wild.  But where humans have disturbed the environment, it can grow very thickly.  That would include roadsides.  I also have seen it grow rather exclusively in the U of Wisconsin arboretum prairie, which is mostly man made, but I think something like 40 years invested in the restoration.  I am not sure what the deal is there.  It could very well be that the species is adapted to other climates better than in Minnesota.