I dont see syriacus in Ga, Sally, and it was my understanding it was naturalized, not native. The list for Ga native doesnt include syriacus, and since I dont see it growing there, I didnt include it. Tuberosa does well down there, I havent caught any seeds since these mowers or the snows catch them before I do.
I have yet to hear which bf are being seen...

Kat, check out the field guide to Georgia milkweeds I posted just before your post. We probably posted about the same time and you missed seeing it.

oops!! when one zooms in to the USDA map it does seem to show a trend to scarcity in the South, even though the zoomed out map says it's native all the way down.
And I was looking at the post just above yours coming from Ohio. I was all discombobulated!

I think I'll butt out

Hello yall. I have been so busy in the garden I apologize for being MIA. I have seen sooo many butterflies but I don't think any of them are Monarchs. I believe they are all Gulf Frittalaries (sp?) I am posting some I saw on my zinnias today for example - I hope that is legal? I have 3 acres of what is basically meadow that would be suitable for all types of milkweed even those that grow aggressively - Syriacus? And I am very interested to know what is the proper protocol for accepting seeds or cuttings. Is that done during the seed swap I've seen mentioned? I'm so tired when I come inside at night that I fall asleep and have not finished exploring to educate myself on all this site has to offer. Just simply not enough time in the day. Today I found a new plant to I'D and have a question about asparagus but I will post separately. In the meantime I will continue following your advice so that I can become THE favorite place in NW.GA for the Monarchs!!!

@sallyg please don't butt out! I appreciate your thoughts. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!

I found both dogbane and milkweed (syriaca) today on a walk (and 14 monarch cats). I'll be back again and try to get some comparison photos, if that would help?

Swallowtails- Eastern Zebra, the dark one is the same. Cat food- fennel, dill, parsley... Monarchs might follow! Hang in with us Sally! My main memory is visual supported by you guys having the refs!
Pictures are GOLDEN!

IJsbrandtGA said:Hello yall. I have been so busy in the garden I apologize for being MIA. I have seen sooo many butterflies but I don't think any of them are Monarchs. I believe they are all Gulf Frittalaries (sp?) I am posting some I saw on my zinnias today for example - I hope that is legal?

I have 3 acres of what is basically meadow that would be suitable for all types of milkweed even those that grow aggressively - Syriacus?

And I am very interested to know what is the proper protocol for accepting seeds or cuttings.

Not a zebra... A tiger swallowtail, lays eggs on tulip poplar.
Black one might be one of several...
Black swallowtail, spice bush, or pipevine... Or even a dark form tiger... May be additional butterflies that look the same.

Legal?
Definitely!

I posted some at my house on my garden blog....

http://gardens-in-the-sand.blo...

Re common milkweed.

If you search "free milkweed seeds", the offer is for those Syracuse milkweeds...
They are difficult to establish here in my area, but.... Get one seed to grow... And then you'll be set.

Unfortunately, our drought is rather unkind to them....

Try planting them in a clay based soil...


Edit:
Here is a zebra:



And a dark form tiger:

sallyg said:I found both dogbane and milkweed (syriaca) today on a walk (and 14 monarch cats). I'll be back again and try to get some comparison photos, if that would help?

Sure, thank you!

We have the yellow zebra as well as the Eastern. There are a LOT of the black swallowtails this year. The Zebra loves pawpaws as well.

Terri, I just googled common milkweed and the kind we have here comes right up. This one has an extra deep root system, and yes, it will spread, but it is not extremely invasive like say ragweed,
Canada thistle, nightshade, or jimson weed. This kind is for meadows and wildland settings and is essential for Monarch caterpillars. I am guessing this plant is fairly common throughout a large
portion of the country. They are quite easily moved. You had indicated that you might be interested in plants. Let me know soon.

I knew that Asclepias speciosa grew in my area as last fall I collected a seed pod but was not successful in making the seeds germinate. I know it was ripe enough because it had burst and was blowing away in the wind when I picked it. I went back to pick another seedpod this summer and the kids had picked all the flowers - no seed pods... I've only been able to find that one plant.

This summer, I found a second milkweed growing near me - Asclepias fascicularis. I have collected one seed pod that was starting to open. Now that I know what A. fascicularis looks like, I am seeing them everywhere - there's even one growing in a crack in the church parking lot!

There is a third one native to my area, A crytocerus, that I have never seen but its so odd looking that I may have seen it but not realized what it was.

After reading a lot on germination, apparently the seed does best when sown directly into the ground immediately after collecting. They don't like being planted in pots. A. fascicularis and A. crytocerus don't need a damp environment to do well busting all my preconceived notions about Asclepias.

They tend to suit the areas they grow- we have antelope horn - and can grow several others. The antelope horn likes caliche soils and whiterock areas, dry areas, damp areas, windy areas. I see it Ks south along i35. The milkweeds seeds are hard germination and best done by allowing them to hit the ground in an area you want, in the season they need to have. So many kinds.