#Narrow leaf milkweed seedling how to#
#Narrow leaf milkweed seedling Patch#

Heading out now for a cat-count probably ending in renewed discouragement. I guess after all this, my questions are: Shall I pull out the stumps of those incarnata-like plants that are not attracting monarchs? And what has happened to those that died? And am I beating myself up with the tent idea? I will happily submit photos of all of the above. (Somehow I'd managed to trap a monarch, then my cat got inside and laid on the fragile plants.) Yesterday when I discovered two tiny caterpillars on the plants outside the net tent, I carefully removed the plants (complete with attached caterpillars) then transplanted to the safety of the tent. In an effort to protect them from flying, stinging, poisonous, infectious insects, I erected a small lattice shelter then covered it with fine net. These attract monarchs and I've had some caterpillars - none survived.

#Narrow leaf milkweed seedling Patch#

I have a patch of other incarnata (I think) where each plant arises from a single, independent, flimsy stem. Late bloomers or fakes? No eggs or caterpillars to be found, not a single chewed leaf, and no frassy poo. It's mid-August and I have only tiny, green buds, no flowers. The leaves are healthy and look exactly like the incarnata in on-line photos. Four to six thick, heavy,dark greenish-brown stalks arise from a single stump. I now wonder if they really are swamp milkweed or some imposter. Last year I planted six asclepias incarnata which came along nicely both years but no, I mean NO, butterfly action. This is my second year and, so far, I'm flunking Milkweed 101. Gonna try and save the seeds and next spring, clean up the area and toss those seeds around. If I have the right kind, I have nothing but unwanted weeds out behind our pole barn. But it never spreads and again I've never seen anyone munching it. I do have the butterfly plant to, the one with orange flowers? Took years of trying to get one to take but it's good now. (There is one plant next door, we own that house too that I have been careful not to mow but I have never seen butterflies on it.) But I'm pretty sure I have the kind butterflies WILL eat. I'll wait to see what the seed pods look like.

Now I don't want to look at the stems of mine since it would mean sacrificing the flower head so that can wait. Dogbane makes skinny ones, some look like string beans. Solid, dogbane.Īnd then there are the seed pods. Helps to see it.īut the big one here, cut the stem. There are several videos on youtube about this.

And milkweed is thicker, stouter, bigger leaves. Dogbane will also branch out, milkweed does not. Milkweed can have some red but big difference.

#Narrow leaf milkweed seedling how to#

So how to tell them apart?ĭogbane has a redish stem. VERY similar but much more toxic and butterflies will NOT eat it. I've been doing some more homework on this, perhaps something that should be added here?