RE: butterfly bush

Asclepias tuberose is the orange common one. My Monarchs don't seen to mind
which one they attack. I love them, but have gotten rid of the common one as
I just can't deal with all those aphids! The pink (incarnata) and white (Ice
Ballet?) don't seem to be bothered with aphids as bad...at least
controllable!

I bet that strip is gorgeous in bloom Auralie! Who knows maybe some day I
will get up into your neck of the woods to see both great places, yours and
Henriette Suhr's garden.

Donna

> 
> 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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