i wish i could get the orange ones to grow at all. i've killed at least 8 storebought seedlings over the years.

Same thing happened to me, except my seeds came from Park's. I was expecting a mix of red, yellow, and orange based on the photos, but nope, just orange here too.

I haven't tried to propagate any stem cuttings, but you'll have to let us know if it works. Mine are just about to start blooming, and I'm hoping this year I see at least one red, or even yellow flower out of the bunch.

Bonnie

I have a yellow and one that looks white! I also have one that looks like orange with pink tips. I was getting worried that they all were orange, but some more opened up today and are different. I love this because they all bloom at different times.

One of mine broke off to the ground and I'm trying to root the cutting. The plant also came up from the roots again. I think these plants are beautiful for something called a weed!

Here are mine so far. These were planted last summer. I had a $25 gift certificate to White Flower Farm for subscribing to Fine Gardening. The only time that I've ordered anything from WFF (but I love the catalog). Teeny tiny, expensive plants (3) last year are now really pretty and blooming great.

I have a lot of other varieties of asclepias in the garden. Pink and white incarnata. Yellow, purple, red milkweed plants that aren't yet blooming. They emerge late here.

Cameron

{{gwi:236666}}

Well, my "Gay Butterflies" has been blooming for about a week now, and low and behold, it's light orange. I too also have the regular orange tuberosa. I can feel your pain, lol. I had purchased my seed from Swallowtail Garden Seeds. There are some soon-to-be-blooming stalks and the foliage looks a bit different. I'm hoping I'll see some red. If I'm fortunate enough to get red, I'd gladly save you some seed ;) But, that's a big if at this point.

I had purchased A. incarnata "Soulmate", which is supposed to be a deep rose pink, yet it bloomed light pink. I also purchased "Red Swamp Milkweed" seed from Pinetree, supposed to be pink to purple (their picture shows a beautiful purple), and of course it bloomed (what else?) light pink. My A. syriaca just bloomed too, light pink! Now I really hate light pink!!!!!!!!!!!! I have loads of A. incarnata "Cinderella", which is what, light pink...
It's frustrating indeed...

Seed Savers exchange catalog carries a red milkweed. Has anyone ever tried those?
Joann

I would love to have the orange ones. I'm like Idabean, I'm trying again, but I have already struck out FOUR times.
Kay

Try growing these from seeds. These need full sun though. Don't buy plants from anyone. Seeds are the way to go. I just throw the seeds on the ground and they come up!

I agree that starting them from seed is probably best. Mine were wintersown, and planted out while they were still very tiny. They develop a long, thick taproot, and dislike being transplanted. I decided to move a couple of mine this spring, and even though I was careful to dig deep and wide, I still managed to break off pieces of the roots. It didn't kill them, but they are definitely still sulking, while the other two are covered in buds and about to bloom.

Bonnie

I believe I got my seed from Thompson & Morgan also and was successful in getting only about 12 to come up. They are only about 6 inches tall, so it may be several years before I find what colors they are. They are native here, also, and one volunteered to show up in the rock garden and has been there for more than 20 years in half day sun. Commonest orange color. I regret not going out into fields just before the bulldozers moved in to dig up some I've seen. I am aware of their huge taproot, but some were yellow and some burnt orange. There's blacktop there now.
I planted a mixture of Potentilla from T & M and it included common weedy types. Not really false advertising, but a disappointment.

i ordered 'Gay Butterflies' (or so thought) from Parks a number of years ago. it produced a bloom the first year---that turned out to be yellow. thought maybe once the plant "matured", the other colors may show. well, nope, the plant has produced all yellow blooms every year. AND, i am VERY happy with that!!! definitely a keeper.

i also grow the orange variety.