Hi Scott, the immediate issue I see with this research is that syriaca isnt a viable speices in late summer and fall because the leaves are too toughits an excellent early milkweed though! He looked sorry and offered, Its true, the section mgr was basically correct, we did not treat the milkweed you purchased from HD with any insecticides. Having milkweed that peaks at different times can make a difference in how many monarchs you attract/support through the season. 1 review of Windmill Farms Nurseries "I raise Monarch butterflies. THE MOST HEARTBREAKING MUTATION WAS PERFECTLY FORMED BUTTERFLIES UNABLE TO FLY, TWO OF WHICH WERE BORN WITHOUT THEIR PROBISCUS IN OTHER WORDS, STARVED TO DEATH. I live in the Antelope Valley in California. Garg (CC-BY-3.0) Because Tropical milkweed remains green until frost throughout the Deep South, it can enable monarchs to continue breeding well into fall and winter, causing populations to persist longer in certain areas than they naturally would. Calling folks names, especially those who could or should be on your side, does not move things in a positive direction. The cats seem plump and healthy. Tropical milkweed ( Asclepias curassavica) is a non-native milkweed that has exploded in popularity in response to the demand for milkweed. Many for FREE. I live in the Bay Area in California I am a novice just started raising Monarchs this year. The trick is to know whether to bother them or not. You writing drips with it. Is that a good idea? The potential problems and solutions surrounding tropical milkweed both involve humans. I kept them alive until the end of December and then they died. I am in zone 7a/6b and I plan to continue growing tropical mw along with my native mw. Then last week we had this unprecedented freeze that killed all Monarchs at all stages from now on I will cut my milkweed down to the roots in the fall they would have been better to migrating. If youre gardening in USDA hardiness zone 7 and below, its highly unlikely youll be dealing with overused milkweed or fall-lingering monarchs. **He strongly suggests using native milkweeds whenever possible. But once on the internet these ideas have a life of their own and seem to grow with time. Please vote! This non-native milkweed has exploded in popularity as demand for milkweed grows to support declining monarch butterfly populations. Because if it all turns about to be true, the damage would already have been done! By growing tropical milkweed responsibly, youll be helping more monarchs in a time when monarch support is crucial to the survival of their storied migration. I gave away many plants to people who wouldnt have been willing to deal with A. syriaca. I feel like planting this species that far north wouldnt contribute much to and issue in continued migration, with such a short season the stragglers or cats that pop out much later than they naturally would, would just freeze. Monarchs need to be in reproductive diapause for successful fall migration to Mexico. I am currently reading Monarchs and Milkweed by Anurag Agrawal.. However, there needs to be research to discover whether there are migratory monarchs from your region, and how many. After the dainty milkweed flowers stop blooming in late summer, their 2- to 4-inch seed pods burst open to reveal silky seeds that fly away with the wind, starting the growing cycle anew. its a great book, but very science orientated. I think we should be most worried about insecticides, Roundup and Spectricides, killing our pollinators. The situation is different for migratory monarchs: When monarchs leave for Mexico in the fall and milkweed plants die back in the winter, this allows the monarchs to come back to 'clean' habitats in the spring because the parasites die during the monarch's long absence and the new growth of milkweed is parasite-free. There is a reason and its not just by happenstance. FACTS- So far we know we fed 2 Monarchs on their way north 4-6 weeks agothats itno eggs or cats. I appreciate your insight and I sure hope you are right! The milkweed being discussed was the tropical variety most widely available in the usual stores, Asclepias curassavica, known commonly as Scarlet or Tropical milkweed. The A. tuberosa and A. incarnata have done poorly, with many plants just not surviving and the others being quite small in their first summer. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on just one type of plant, and that's milkweed (genus Asclepias). Northern gardeners can grow the plants in a container and treat them as an annual. I am very interested in plants that will benefit the Monarch butterflies. Hi Deanne, I am still holding out hope for tuberosa.I even moved some last year to see if a new spot makes it more inviting to the monarchs. I have a friend who wants to Johnny Appleseed the milkweed to help the Monarchs, which with all I have learned about OE is a terrifying plan, one that she will hopefully decide against. Neonicotinoids are so invasive it will even make your soil toxic. We will not be able to work together if we begin the conversation with name calling. We did have a temp drop 2 days ago and after this is when some of them have died or started acting sluggish. Windmill Farms supplies Lowes with their tropical milkweed. population of monarch butterflies has declined, Stop Mosquitoes With a Citronella Scented Geranium, 16 Funny Butterfly Pictures You Need to See, Top 10 Swallowtail Host Plants and Flowers to Grow, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Tropical milkweed is a large, showy milkweed with lovely yellow and orange flowers. When it make sense, prune away entire sections of the plant. Thanks for the discussion! Unfortunately there are no plants of any type around everything seems dead to the roots Would love to know how this butterfly survived. Native milkweed dies back after blooming and we know that this life/death cycle helps to keep OE levels down. In Mexico, Asclepias curassavica is considered a native all the way up to the south Texas border where, apparently a political hostage, it becomes The key is this: You must plant milkweed native to your area. Kevin, I raise caterpillars on leaves, cuttings, and potted plants. Hi Michael, thank you for your comment. Please give me some tips on HOW to bring it in during the winter. As of now I have 20 chrysalis and 20 caterpillars close to pupating. We had a real issue this year with wasps. Hopefully we will get some insight into the behavior patterns of the western monarchs when the counts are finished later this month. Its in the ground right now but I put planted it in the ground about 1.5 weeks ago. OE-infected or non-infected monarch caterpillars, if given a choice between Swamp or Tropical milkweed, didnt prefer one or the other. Even worse, these females will lay infected eggs on wild native milkweeds but no one will be there to disinfect their babies. Cut back Tropical Milkweed to the ground in the fall and winter months. (PS. Davis firmly believes that monarchs must migrate in order to maintain a healthy population. Gardeners are eager to help their favorite orange butterflies, and planting milkweed is one of the best ways to do that. The last two years we had a sudden freeze around Thanksgiving and maybe earlier the year before and both times there were monarchs and caterpillars all over my tropical milkweed. https://www.monarchscience.org/single-post/a-complete-summary-of-the-previous-and-new-science-on-tropical-milkweed-and-monarchs. James study of monarchs began in the 1970s in Sydney, Australia. The population here in the West coast is in such a decline and we in the Monterey Bay area are known for the Monarchs, it is intrinsic to our culture and it is in a sad state. I had tropical milkweed blooming in October/November, and at one point counted 20 monarchs in that flower bed. The bad news revived the contentious debate in monarch butterfly conservation circles about the causes of monarch decline, with non-native milkweeds like Tropical milkweed and Balloon plant taking much of the blame. Then attack them with a PRESSURIZED stream of water while cradling the flower with your hand to prevent damage. Tropical Milkweed(Asclepias curassavica) is a non-native milkweed that has exploded in popularity over the past decade with both North American butterfly gardeners and the objects of their desiremonarch butterflies! And finally, they all are advocating against pesticides like the ones found on plants sold in most nurseries and in the big box stores. And what other varieties would U suggest I plant in S.W. Prairie Moon Nursery offers several varieties (e.g., A. hirtella, A. stenophylla, A. incarnata, A. tuberosa and A. verticillata) which might grow here. I Love MonarchsFrom The Bottom Of My Milkweed! I think keeping the tropical around just to extend the milkweed season is akin to keeping the trash can lid open to let the racoons eat. We have been a resource for interested active people wanting to help the Monarch and restore its NATURAL habitat for the past 13 years. Texas Butterfly Ranch reported that a tropical milkweed research patch left overwinter in San Antonio had an occurrence of 15% OEhowever, other monitoring sites observed by the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project had 47%! I dont think Tropical Milkweed is the correct variety to scatter to the winds! We have seen only one egg laying Monarch but I have removed Aphid colonies from three of my dozen milkweeds of differing types. But as some species enter senescence [even after cutting them back] late in the season, the tropical milkweed is the last ditch fresh food standing, in many cases. Its also fast growing and easy to propagatearent these important qualities in a time when loss of habitat is decreasing the milkweed supply? But why take a risk of spreading more parasites or halting the migration??? Here are 6 excellent options that include both host plant and nectar flowers for monarchs and other pollinators. Those last monarchs are mainly fed tropical milkweed. All of this is documented in scientific journals, he said. Asclepias curassavica, commonly known as tropical milkweed, is a flowering plant species of the milkweed genus, Asclepias. But James contends that the presence of milkweednative or non-nativeis NOT a primary cue for suspending reproductive and migratory behavior. Hi Deanne, I think tropical milkweed is a good option for smaller gardens because you need to maximize your space with long blooming, viable plants. Night time temps are in the 40s. Re: migration. He pointed out that Sydney sits at 33.51 degrees latitude south of the equator, about the same distance that California roosting sites sit north of the equator. I was pretty stunned to read people condemn tropical milkweed, when monarchs have been feeding it on it probably before the ice ages. However, its important to note there is currently no conclusive datatelling us if/how much this is happening. Later in the day that milkweed pod had split and the caterpillar had disappeared. I intend to cut all the milkweed back in a couple weeks gathering as many seeds as I can. Still giving it a chance though. There were little lizards patrolling the milkweed daily. Elsewhere in the US and Canada, it is grown as an annual. (Or at least as far from it as frost-free areas of the US get) The plant can even establish in a non-cultivated setting here, I wouldnt be too surprised if it would be locally banned or regulated at some point. There, he documented winter breeding monarchs on milkweed right next to large clusters of non-breeding monarchs in nearby trees. I have been harassed to no end by my native plant groups to which I belong and am on the boards. I only kept tropical in pots for use as a food source last year and then got rid of them. I fear my experience my support the tropical milkweed nay-sayers I dont want that. I am concerned about this because I had cut my plants down, I had almost entirely new growth, I was feeding with the leaves from that new growth. It can be a host plant for Ophryocystis elektroscirra (OE), a parasite of monarch butterflies ( Danus plexippus ). They often bypass tuberosa for milkweed with more substantial foliage in other parts of the country. The camp of people who believe: if fall migrants come into contact with tropical milkweed (or even just smell it), then this will tempt them to drop out of the migration and start breeding have been unable to shoot videos showing thats what actually happens in real life field situations. I should take notes so I can share real info on conditions and effects. Lots of lizards on the plants and no pupas formed. Purple is the color of juicy plums, stunning sunsets, or a sparkling glass of wineSteven Spielberg even made a classic movie about it! Severe infections can defoliate the plant. @Tony, thank you for the article and what you are trying to do here. Your system sounds fine. 5 Ways to Save Monarchs and Make 2023 Your Best Monarch SeasonEver! But many experts recommend avoiding tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica). I feel it was important to leave them be until the first frost to help sustain them on their journey She clung to that walking up and down the string to take sips of the nectar. anyhow, do you think it could be OE? Im sure the lizards eat some/most because I have seen them on the milkweed plants. I can see why folks might be concerned about OE, but for most gardeners growing this lovely gem, I dont think it becomes a big issue. Milkweed is a tough weed to control, but apparently with the help of . This afternoon, I walked along several miles of roadside in and around the Austin, TX area looking for milkweed, I found hundreds of plants already growing. Its hot here (90s to 100s in the summer), and I havent seen any caterpillars get sick and die from too much cardenolide in the tropical milkweed. The leaves contain cardiac glycosides, compounds that affect heart function, making them toxic to most species of birds and mammals. They consider this to be good for the environment & are selfless gardeners. Her bucket list bird is the painted bunting. Also, there is a recommended stores section at the bottom of the page: I planted tropical milkweed (just labeled milkweed at the nursery) in my garden in New Orleans and now Im worried because there are at least 10-15 caterpillars and lots of crysalises all over the garden. 6 Valentine Gift Ideas for a Butterfly Lover (or Friend). I planted the tropical milkweed because it was what was available in the few nurseries around here that even carried milkweed. I wonder if it is possible for the drought conditions to add to the OE increase? Fact: Milkweed is the host plant of the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus. If milkweed leaves get infested with bugs or start looking diseased I would cut back those parts of the plant and discard them. I recommend raising from egg, using cuttings (which is recommended in my book), and thoroughly rinsing all milkweed before serving. The A. curassavica is robust and beautiful. I try to give them a variety. I only managed to get ONE showy milkweed plant to sprout over several years of trying (even with cold stratifying) and it is TINY, barely 4 inches tall. When I saw that the winter months did not slow down any Monarch activity, I knew I needed more milkweed to meet their voracious demand. I have moved to southern Florida where I luckily have wild milkweed on the property. I have the Tropical Milkweed and it worked great last year and I had a lot of Monarchs emerge from it. Tropical milkweed itself is not "bad." (It provides larval food for monarchs in many places where it occurs naturally, such as across the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.) My research on Australian monarchs in the 1970s/80s taught me one overriding thing: the monarch is an extremely adaptable creature., TOP PHOTO: Monarch butterfly on Tropical milkweed. Okay, I get all the Tropical Milkweed discussion, BUT I live in Central Arkansas (zone 7b winter freeze) and my NATIVES have viable leaves (not bloom)s in the Fall just like the Tropical Milkweed. While these issues are still being studied, some are calling for a moratorium on tropical milkweed and lesser knownnon-natives that could potentially pose the same threat. In an article published on the NABA website in 2015, he called Tropical milkweed a life buoy for monarchs. There is also the issue of the higher levels of cardenolides in A. curassavica vs. A. syriaca, for example. The same happened in Sydney in the 1970s, he said. This years Thanksgiving count of only 1,914 butterflies was hailed as a near-extinction event by pollinator advocacy organization, the Xerces Society, a claim echoed by many media outlets. Today I saw a very large caterpillar eating a hole in a green milkweed seedpod. I would make a list of a few options that sound interesting and then talk to local gardeners or nurseries to see what works best for them. At this point, I will have to cut down the narrowleaf and showy plants in a few weeks to avoid OE buildup. good luck! Milkweed hurting the monarchs is just as wrong and confusing to people as using whorled milkweed as a supposed threat to horses and cattle to eradicate all milkweeds for all reasons. I have no technical expertise on Monarchs physiology beyond a basic knowledge We probably wont have our first freeze until late december, and who knows it might be a temperate winter, but I just cant stand the thought of all those potential butterflies freezing to death in their crysalises. This study was in Minnesota, so Im not sure I agree with your hypothesis, but perhaps this could become an issue in southern regions of the US. While awareness is rising around the A $10pump type water can from the big box hardware allows violence to be inflicted without damaging the blossoms. Water. November 4, 2016 my 1st grade students and I notice monarchs visiting our tropical milkweed. Bermuda is only 21 square miles in size less than half the land area of San Francisco. Do I cut back the milkweed plants or do I let them remain as they are? In S Florida, can we use tropical milkweed year-round without bringing them indoors? My narrow leaf is just now showing signs of tiny green leaves popping out. Im not sure what you can do to stop them besides spreading milkweed patches around your garden so some go undetected or bring in a few to raise indoors: I have a hearty patch of Tropical Mikkweed in my yard in Houston. Tropical milkweed might pose fewer problems in the northern monarch breeding range because it dies back naturally when it freezes. I have not investigated whether or not the southeastern tuberosa is a subspecies or not of the northern tuberosa. While there is plenty of science for all to read, people can read and make up their own minds, I stopped at this website because it appeared an importabt conversation was taking place. Thank you for providing all this info and the links. So butterfliesand moths as wellhave what we call host plants. Hi Danae, if you want to establish a garden outside, I would suggest a minimum of 6 plants to a patchone monarch can eat an entire plant over a 2 week period. 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