Re: Saving the Monarch Butterfly

[blue neen]

There is quite a bit of old-fashioned milkweed growing in a vacant lot next to ours. I'd like to transplant some to our yard--we'll ask the lot owner, but I'm sure he won't mind.

Does milkweed transplant very well, and what would be the best time of year to do it? We live in Zone 6.

Thanks!

[Curmudgeoness]

1. It is difficult to transplant.

If you can find small plants, you can transplant them and it might work. Larger plants will have a tap root that goes too far down to successfully dig and move. I have never tried it, but it probably would be best to start seeds in the house and move them outdoors once they are big enough and weather is warm enough. Of course, that would mean you have to wait a year.

Make sure that the area you plant them in has the same type of conditions as where they are growing now. If you want to try this year, see if you can find small plants that have come up from seeds and I would do that as early in the year as you can, before the roots go too far down.

Good luck.

[blue neen]

2. Thank you so much.

I will check to see if any smaller ones have started from the seeds. It's a strange area, sunny but a little moist. I'm looking to move them laterally into our yard where the conditions would be about the same.

Let's hope this works!

[Botany]

3. What kind of milkweed is it?

dig enough of the root and put it in a 3 gallon nursery pot w/a nice medium and it should do
fine ..... dig it as soon as you see it coming up. the top might die but the root will push
more leaves.

Grow it on in the pot until late summer early fall and then plant it in its new home.

[blue neen]

4. I think it's swamp milkweed, because it gets the pink flowers.

I'll take your suggestions and see what happens. Thanks!