Thank you, Mark, for what you do!

Yes...thank you, Mark!!

thanks for doing this Mark...looking forward to your update!

Just found this thread. Yep thanks Mark. My seeds last year did not germinate. I had problems with lots of seed due to the freaking weather.

Did anyone have successful germination of the Red Ring Milkweed, and if so, what were your methods?

Martha

Martha, I had excellent germination last year by winter sowing.

Mary

Mary,

I wintersowed mine and got zero germination. That was the only milkweed that didn't germinate for me, and it was the only one I really wanted. But, I think I checked and my zone might be pushing the limits for that species. So, I'll stick with the varieties that grow easily here. There are plenty. Keep up all the great work you are doing for the Monarchs and other pollinators.

Martha

Hi Martha,

Sorry you did not have any success with the seed. I have heard back from folks with about a 50/50 split on their successes/failures- all with the same seed. There will not be any seed of this species this year but maybe in 2016.

Regards,

Mark (wildflowerman_2000)

Hi Martha, it could have been the seeds too. I got some a couple years ago and the seeds didn't look fully mature. Even in a borderline hardiness zone, at least SOME should have survived winter sowing. If you get another chance, I would try again to make sure the seeds weren't the issue. Thanks for your report Mark...maybe next year! Tony

I had no success with these as well. But I had several others that did not germinate as well. I started ~ 12 different types of MW and ~ 4 never came up - not one seed. I did have several hundred make it though. I have been planting from seed for 40 years and grown tens of thousands of plants.

It is simply too bad this is such a scarce seed, This and Purple are very hard to find at an acceptable price. I refuse to pay 10 - 20 $ for 6 - 10 seeds which is a common price for Purple. Redring is simply not generally offered.

I would like some seed next year if available; I'm currently trying to grow all milkweed species that are native to Texas as a challange and also because pollinators love them. I wish I had come across this thread 3 years ago lol