The MGS Forum
Plants for mediterranean gardens => Perennials => Topic started by: Sandra on September 02, 2012, 09:56:55 PM
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I wonder if anyone is growing or has grown or propagated any cultivars of Asclepias and can tell me anything useful about them?
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Sandra,
I'm pleased to see you mention this flower. I posted on it here, but received no comments at the time.
- http://www.mgsforum.org/smf/index.php?topic=162.0
I was pleased with how it began, but it did attract some orange aphids, which led to:
this quote from: David Bracey on 12 October 2011, 19:23:51
Your yellow aphid is A neri. The following extract was taken from a Languedoc branch report "Ten members replied that their most important insect pest was aphid or greenfly. A.neri, the yellow oleander species is their major problem. This aphid can overwinter on Euphorbiaceae and Asclepiadaceae (milkweed) species, both local weeds."
Now, a year later, the plant is OK, but no bigger. It is one of several plants that are not flourishing due to proximity to Cupressus trees. And I still have not seen a butterfly on it :(
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Mike, thanks for this. I came across two cultivars at a a friends garden in Essesx, UK, and was taken with the bright colours and the form, which made me think of oleanders. Interesting that the aphids that like the oleanders also like Asclepius! I took a couple of softwood cuttings but have since read that propagation is best by root cuttings. I'll just have to wait and see what happens...
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Hi, both,
I like the flowers too, they have a quiet, quirky charm to them, though I find the plant itself only does well with fairly regular watering. Regarding use by butterflies, it is a specific food and habitat plant of the Monarch butterfly and I don't know whether others regularly use it or not. So if you are in an area not visited by Monarchs, perhaps it would remain butterfly-free...? I will be watching ours more closely to see if any other species are using them.