Re: butterfly bush

The milkweed that is specific for monarch is "common" milkweed, 
Asclepias syriaca, which has very pale lavendar or pinkish flowers.
I think they may eat some others, as I have seen them on my cultivated
Asclepias, too.  The "swamp" milkweed is, according to the Audubon
Society Field Guide,  Asclepias incarnata, a deep pink flower.  I am
not familiar with it, but doubt it is the one specific for monarchs, for the
guide says it contains less of the milky sap that gives monarchs their
protective nasty taste to predators. I have a bed of the "common" 
ones in the narrow strip between the drive and the boulder.  People
say "you have to get rid of those weeds," but I encourage them.  Not
only for the monarchs, but because I like them.  I think the flowers are
lovely, I love their fragrance, and if I am lucky enough to get pods, I
love them, too, for dried flower arrangements and various crafts.
When the plants begin to get ratty late in the summer I just cut them
down unless they have bods - most don't.
But then I guess you all know by now that my garden is not your 
conventional flower-bed.
Auralie

In a message dated 06/13/2005 5:41:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
tchessie@comcast.net writes:
Do monachs use any of the other asclepias?   Exactly which one it "swamp 
milkweed"?

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