First of all, after my swamp milkweed was mildewy last year and much worse this year, I'm wondering if you think this is a trend. Has anyone else's swamp milkweed had mildew several years in a row? I'm wondering if it has it once if it will always have it. I hate to feed the cats milkweed that looks so terrible.

I hate to destroy 100 swamp milkweed plants that I spent a lot of time putting in, but then again, I don't want to have this problem every year either. I'm considering replacing those plants with another kind of milkweed. I do already have butterfly weed (which, by the way, has not had the mildew problem), and I also plant tropical milkweed every year. The tropical is my favorite, but it's an annual, and I really want to put a perennial milkweed in the milkweed patch if I decide to replace the swamp milkweed.

One that I've been considering is Purple Milkweed. Please give me your opinions on it. Has it gotten mildew for you, or have you had any other problems with it (other than the darned aphids, that probably find whatever kind you have)? Do you have problems keeping it under control? I know, some people let their milkweed grow uncontrollably and don't care, but I want to keep it from spreading all over. Does this kind spread in the same manner as Common Milkweed, with the rhizomes? Or just seeds? Maybe it seems funny for someone who raises Monarchs not to want her milkweed to run rampant, but I'm that way with any kind of plant. It has to know its place. lol

How big are the leaves of the Purple Milkweed? How would you describe them as compared to the other milkweeds I've mentioned? I thought it they're bigger than swamp milkweed, right there is a plus, I think, because I think it takes a lot of swamp milkweed to feed the Monarchs. The butterfly weed leaves aren't all that big either. Now, the tropical milkweed, I like their size!

If you can think of anything else to tell me about Purple Milkweed, I'm all ears. Also, if there are any other types of milkweed that don't try to take over the place, I'd possibly consider those. I'd like them to have fairly big leaves too, but my main concern is the mildew problem. I also have about 60 swamp milkweed plants in 3-gallon containers that did lousy this year too and I might replace them whether or not I decide to replace the ones in the SMW patch next year. Thanks for any opinions that you can share!

Cathy