Friday, July 10, 2009

Colors of Milkweed


I was delighted to find the cultivar of Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Weed, we sold at the state beekeeper's meeting turned out so pretty. I can't wait for this to turn into a bush.


A. tuberosa starts out as a tiny stalk with very few flowers on it.


On the following year though it turns into a small bush.


A three year old plant actuall is a slightly bigger bush but is covered in flowers.


A. tuberosa also comes in solid yellow.


As you can see bees love it.







Asclepias incarnata
, doesn't get as bushy. What it lacks in flowers, it makes up for in height. I've also notice Monarch butterflies on it slightly more. When mixed milkweeds are planted near one another though it's hard to tell.



A. incarnata is also available in white.