First, I apologize for my lack of understanding--I really am unfamiliar with "trouble growing milk weeds"; I really thought they grew like weeds everywhere--but I am dying to know!
Who has trouble growing milkweeds and why?

I and many of the people I know have lots of trouble growing the native milkweeds, they don't like to be domesticated, and are very particular about their growing requirements.
Milkweed vine is easy to grow, that is why I am so excited about it

I'm one of those people!! I've had trouble for years trying to grow milkweed from seed. One year I even purchased small starter plants, they didn't make it either. I'm mostly speaking about Asclepias tuberosa. Although I tried several species.

It's true that wildflowers do not like to be domesticated. Even those that can be argressive or invasive will only do so if the conditions are to their liking!

I've not seen the milkweed vine before, its very pretty! I may give it a try.

Thank you for the article, Frostweed!

You are welcome, I hope that it may lead people to try different options

I'v never seen this plant for sale ? But I sure would love to try it !!!

Fascinating! I wonder if it is an insufficient winter chill thing? I know the seeds need extended 40 degree stratification...
I can't say that I've ever tried to 'domesticate' them, but I sure have had trouble with them volunteering wherever they wish in my gardens both in the midwest and here in the west as well as being very difficult to discourage once they get those taproots going.

I planted A. tuberosa on purpose and it seeds itself around quite freely. I have let some of them go in places really unsuited for their eventual size and later dug them out and relocated them somewhere more accommodating...transplants took and the originals came back too. I surrendered to the A. tuberosa shrubs where they don't fit but I cut them to the ground after their fall blooms and throw the whole thing--aphids and summer seed pods in the trash. I have another A. speciosa clump in a really unsuitable location that I have dug out four years in a row and it keeps coming back too, although this last year it seemed a little daunted for a change so I think It might give up one of these next few years. I know it probably sounds horrendous for those of you who have trouble growing milkweeds that I would be trying to kill one...there are hundreds more not far away, if that helps any...
And there is a lovely patch of A. asperula just up the hill from me...I collected some seed and I'm *thinking* about planting it..but feeling a little reluctant, too.

Anyway, your vine is an impressive specimen and I'm glad that it likes domestication for you!

You are so lucky to have milkweed all around, and I am glad that not everyone has problems growing it.
Thank you for your comments.

I agree! Dirtdorphins, that is very interesting information. Thank you.

Milkweeds can certainly be hard to grow. Some require a certain kind of habitat. I have trouble with Swamp Milkweed Beetles and larva eating my milkweed during some years. And A. texana doesn't easily produce seeds. There has to be enough other A. texana plants around that bloom at the same time...then some may have to be cross-pollinated by hand if there aren't any insects around that can do that. I have other species of milkweed vine (besides F. cynanchoides) around , but have never seen the Monarchs or Queens lay any eggs on them. The Queens have chosen to lay eggs on F. cynanchoides vines in the past.

Thank you Linda for your shedding some light on the question. I don't know how well Monarchs and Queens will take to this vine, because the butterflies have been so absent this year, but I have hopes. I did see Queens laying eggs on it and also saw a caterpillar later, but there were so few of them that the predators snatched them up right away.
I think that the mosquito spraying they have been doing around here has a lot to do with the lack of butterflies.

I have to say that I have raised Monarchs and Queens with the leaves from this vine, and they ate it just fine and grew to maturity without any problems.
In any event, maybe next year will be a better indicator and give us better clues.

I hope so! Sunday I saw Queens and Monarchs in a town nearby. Yesterday I saw a Monarch at the front of my property. Everything was still a little bit wet here that morning, so the butterfly was mostly just hanging around.