Milkweed
Milkweed is an important plant in the life cycle of caterpillars, especially the Monarch butterfly.
The common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) can be invasive, but there are other varieties that aren't - butterfly milkweed, swamp milkweed and poke milkweed. I let them grow in one area of the garden so encourage the caterpillars.
The common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) can be invasive, but there are other varieties that aren't - butterfly milkweed, swamp milkweed and poke milkweed. I let them grow in one area of the garden so encourage the caterpillars.
The Monday mystery this week was of some milkweed buds ready to open.
Here just a few of the flowers are open.
You get a good dose of aromatherapy when you stand by these plants.
I love the delicate individual blooms. The flowers grow in clusters and will attract bees and butterflies. Later towards Fall the clusters will turn into pods filled with silky fluff attached to the black seeds. Nature's way of spreading the growth of the milkweed plant.
Did you know the flowers and pods are edible? I don't know if I would be trying this but I've read on a few different websites how to do it. The flowers can be dropped briefly into boiling water and added to salads. Harvest pods about 2.5 cm. long (if any longer you can get digestive upset) and drop into boiling water for a couple of minutes, drain and repeat the process at least two more times. Has anyone eaten milkweed flowers or pods?
I'll just continue to grow them for their beauty and the Monarch butterflies.
Labels: milkweed
7 friendly comments:
Linda ! I just took more pictures this morning of my butterfly weed .. it goes so well with the Munstead lavender : )
I had no idea you could eat these .. not that I would, but that is very interesting : )
I love seeing the pods in the Autumn .. it is a wonderful plant in the garden for sure !
Joy
PS .. it was cloudy last evening so no pictures of the moon on a full moon night , drats ! haha
I won't be eating them either Joy, but I love to find out fascinating facts like that.
I have the gold one and the orange and gold one. I see the little seed silks floating through the air...wonder how many I'll have next year? I like the color of yours.
Linda~~ Yesterday I was looking at my pregnant hens (as in hens & chicks) and the flower buds were tiny spheres with a similar delicate dusty pink with fine hairs. I thought, ah ha. So this is the mystery plant. But I'm wrong again. My Asclepias is blooming too and I've got a bunch of seedlings to plant. It's a dandy plant for sure.
Great minds think alike, Linda - I have just written about Milkweed too. I didn't realise that you had chosen the same topic today!! I don't think I noticed the flowers last year - they are quite distinctive, aren't they? The caterpillars certainly love them - mine had ladybird/bug larvae on them, too.
I don't think I've ever seen wild milkweed here. I tried growing some asclepias seeds, which are supposed to be hardy here, no germination. I brought in plants (supposed to be hardy)--no survivors. But we do see lots of lovely butterflies.
I don't know if I've seen milkweed here (Vancouver, BC) but the little flowers are beautiful. I love those round buds, too. Thanks for the photos.
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