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| 6/28/2010 - nice combo with drumstick alliums |
Ascelpias
Asclepias tuberosaThis is the classic orange butterfly weed, also called milkweed, although this one does not have the milky sap.
It will self sow if the funny triangle seed pods are left on it. Seed pods split open and release silky tailed seeds to the wind.
I planted this in 2008 and it did nothing for two years. It takes a while.
Then, in 2010 it started to bloom in June and kept up its bright orange show all summer. Eventual size should stay low, about 18 inches high.
A slowly spreading patch is at the far corner of the gravel garden, mixed with purple drumstick alliums.
It comes up late in spring. Don't move it, it has a deep taproot, but I can capture the seeds when pods split open and plant more.
It is amazing how truly orange the flowers are, and how wonderfully odd the seedpods are.
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| 7/21/13 |
They are the deepest, brightest orange imaginable. They like the location in sun at the end of the gravel garden.
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| 7/3/14 |
Then in fall the seedpods are architectural and odd looking.
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| 9/22/14 |
In late fall when the pods opened and the white silky fluff was exposed, I took seeds out and planted them among the existing butterfly weed plants. I want to increase the size of this stand of asclepius, so I made sure several were firmly planted in the soil.
Butterfly weed takes several years to bulk up and get to its mature size.
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| 6/19/15 |
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| 7/6/15 |
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| 6/25/16 |
