Oh, the irony

19 years ago

Sometimes you just don't know if you should laugh out loud or weep like a child.

I previously posted about my butterfly weed. I transplanted some from another garden, which is of course terribly difficult since these things seem to have one single tap root and absolutely hate to be moved.

Out of half a dozen of such sticks, ONE tiny little butterfly weed made it. ONE! It eventually stopped drooping, then put on some green, then actually produced a tiny cluster of flowers and a couple of delicate little new shoots at its base.

I was in heaven!

Then today, while deadheading the daisies, I saw that a big fat Milkweed Moth caterpillar had pretty much chewed up the whole little plant, leaving only a few leaves and one shoot unchewed.

I was so mad I snipped the culprit in half.

Of all my plants, it had to pick the most vulnerable! What do you think? Any hope of survival here?

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Comments (8)

prairiemoon2 z6b MA
19 years ago
Hmmmm...I am not sure if there is a difference between the butterfly weed plant that you are talking about or the one I have. I have had both actually, the Asclepias tuberosa which is a short one with orange flowers and the Asclepias incarnata which is the tall one. I had the incarnata in a front bed for about 5 years with a lot of other sun loving perennials and it got too over grown and I decided to do something different with it. We pulled it all out and mulched it over last year and this year planted it with new plants. I haven't stopped pulling out little asclepias seedlings all summer. No sooner do I pull them then they are back. I have no experience moving the tuberosa if that is the one you have. Hope that helps some?
crazykwilter
19 years ago
Butterfly weed, aka milkweed, is food for the caterpillar of the monarch butterfly. They will eat it down to nubs, but it will re-sprout and grow again. I don't bother to cut down the sticks, so the plant puts its energy into growing just leaves and not stems.

The caterpillars started on my butterfly weed late in the season, or so it seemed. I was a bit concerned but came out one day to find it crawling with cats. That's the main reason I grow it!
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chris_ont
Original Author
19 years ago
This is Asclepias tuberosa, see below a plant from my garden at the old house. Not exactly invasive in these parts - I hardly ever see it.
It took only one caterpillar (Milkweed Tussock Moth, NOT a monarch) to annihilate this baby plant and so I'm not about to let it have its way with it.

After the rough start it's had, I can't imagine it's going to live through this.

Asclepias tuberosa
todancewithwolves
19 years ago
They are hardy plants. I wouldn't worry. They die back, get eaten and go through the whole cycle again. As long as the roots have taken it should come back next summer.

I have so many varieties of milkweed in my garden I've lost track. They all come back even if they get mowed by DH.

Family Jewels (my favorite and a monarch favorite also)

Silky Gold

Swamp Milkweed (a monarch favorite and would grow great in your area as it loves moisture)
{{gwi:742813}}

Edna
Steveningen
19 years ago
I'll wager that you are growing healthy roots below your chewed upon plant, Chris. If it put up a fight above ground, it's doing even better below decks.

Edna - did you get that Family Jewels milkweed from Annie's? I was really tempted to get one of these. Seeing yours has put it on The List. It's fantastic and quite a conversation piece for the garden. I'll leave the double-entendres for others to contribute.

Steven
PattiOH
19 years ago
Hi Chris,
The second spring after planting my Asclepias tuberosa, I sliced off the top three inches of its not-yet-emerged growth after forgetting where I planted it. I was sure it was a goner, and tearfully planted something in its place. That August, I noticed its beautiful orangey-red blossoms peeking from behind the substituted plant. It also survived being "imperfectly removed" from its home in Ohio last year and is blooming beautifully here in MA at the moment. So I agree with our friends, chances are that your Asclepias tuberosa will be back. :-)

Patti
utdeedee
19 years ago
Chris, I planted a whole pack of butterfly weed seed and I only had 2 plants come up from about 100 seeds. They've been slow to grow but have small blooms on them. It was nice to read all the postings about how hardy they are as I have had lots of catepillars and I hate to lose plants :)
Good luck!
Nancy
19 years ago
I had the same happen a couple of years ago, caterpillars at the 2 plants I had to nubs. Next spring they came back better than before. The plants must be tougher or not as tasty after they get settled in, the caterpillars haven't demolished them like that since.