Hello. I have never visited this part of ATP before but my recently developed passion for the butterfly has made me realize that I need to learn all I can about wildflowers. It appears that milkweed is vital to the health and well being of the caterpillars of a lot of different butterflies. I am trying to find a source of seeds or plants to establish a wildflower garden area here at my home. I did find a field that must have a couple of thousand of the Tuberosa (orange) milkweed but I hear because of the deep taproot that that transplanting success is not likely. Too bad as they are there for the taking according to the landowner. I've never started plants from seeds but I am a quick learner and willing to give it a go. I may ask some pretty basic questions at times because I know nothing about wildflowers, but I am not a novice gardener. What is a good source of reliable seed for tuberosa and other milkweeds and any other plants that I should consider.? I have lots of room so I welcome all suggestions. Thanks.

Prairie Moon Nursery in southeastern Minnesota is an excellent source for a huge variety of wildflower seed (and plants).

http://www.prairiemoon.com/

Many nurseries sell wildflowers to one degree or another, but two really good ones that specialize in them and are in your area are :

Shooting Star Nursery in Kentucky

http://shootingstarnursery.com...

and Sunlight Gardens in Tennessee

http://www.sunlightgardens.com...

It's good that the landowner will allow you to take plants. It is possible to root the cuttings of the Tuberosa milkweed. Remove all but the topmost leaves and root in water over the winter. By spring you will have your own field of flowers.

KentPfeiffer said:Prairie Moon Nursery in southeastern Minnesota is an excellent source for a huge variety of wildflower seed (and plants).

http://www.prairiemoon.com/ ...

I've used Prairie Moon several times, and have always had a pleasant experience.

If you have the room for it, Verbesina alternifolia might be a good plant for you as well. They particularly like to grow alongside streams and rivers.

I've started my own stands and still have a large packet of these seeds left over, Dave. If you'd like to try some just send me a treemail.

Thanks for the links guys. I am excited about getting me a wildflower garden going. Chelle I sent you a tree mail. That is a very generous offer. Thank you so much.

You're welcome, Dave.



Meantime, have fun looking through some of these websites. I learned a lot about wildflowers, their growing conditions and how their seeds germinate best just by browsing my favorites.

I have bought from Ever Wilde Farms and they have a good selection of milkweed seed including tuberosa.

http://www.everwilde.com/cgi-b...

Welcome to the Wildflowers and Pollinators forum Dave

I am sorry I didn't see your post till just now, and I hope you will be a frequent visitor.
Gardening for butterflies is a lot of fun, I have planted and take care of three butterfly gardens, one at home, one at a local museum and one at a wildscape.

I am always amazed when I hear someone say that they have a lot of native milkweeds growing wild near by, because milkweeds have been very difficult for me to grow, all except the Tropical Milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, and although it is not a native plant it does the job. I do have those and probably can send you seed later on.
In the meantime be sure to plant lots of plants native to your area, both for larval food and also nectar.

Here is a list of native plants recommended for Tennessee that will give you a good idea of what is good to plant in your area.
http://wildflower.org/collecti...

Have fun, butterflies are so beautiful and taking care of their needs is a great adventure

Josephine.

Another late comer to welcome you!

Wildflowers are a great way to attract butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects. They really do seem to prefer the native wildflowers over anything else growing in my garden.

I have had very good luck starting milkweed (asclepias tuberosa) with the winter sowing method.
Maybe collect some seed from the plants this fall.

I found ATP this afternoon, and have been getting quizzical looks from my husband for the past couple of hours (quote: "I thought you'd be outside all afternoon."). I have been working with varying degrees of intensity, health permitting, on building a diverse wildscape on our half acre near Magnolia, Texas, for the past 10 years. I had had gratifying success with a front yard xeriscape on black gumbo in North Dallas, but have been much more ambitious in the sand here. of course, the biggest drawback - and advantage - of sand is that it drains so well; this prolonged drought is making a mockery of regional native plant lists, and forcing me to water plants that have traditionally been native here. I am tempted to introduce some Edwards Plateau plants, in hopes of their thriving here. I do have some non-native plants, mostly hardy survivors from our predecessors' garden, but also the odd gift that I have been unable to say no to. Like most Texans, I also have a hard time saying no to volunteer Lantanas!

I would love to show you what's blooming right now - Pavonia lasiopetala grown from seeds from my Dallas back garden, Eupatorium coelestinum (time to limit it), Ludwigia octovalvis (ditto), Eupatorium havanense (which appeared a few weeks ago in the area I cleared of grass only last year), Solidago gigantea (8-9' this year), Malaviscus drummondii (bent on taking over a raised bed from the Salvia coccinea), Hamelia patens (which needs more sun), &c, &c, &c. Unfortunately, I am lacking in expertise when it comes to moving photos from one device to another, so that will have to wait.

I have lots of seed collected this year, both from my plants and from the wild, and would be happy to share them with y'all!!.

Welcome to the Wildflowers and Pollinators forum Carol, and also to ATP.
You will like it here, this is a very friendly site.

Welcome Carol.

Sounds like a great garden .
This sight can keep you from the outside , it is a discipline I am only good at some days and another reason to be thankful for rainy days.

We also have a Texas Forum you might want to visit.
http://garden.org/forums/view/...

to ATP, Carol.