Thursday, January 20, 2011

GIANT Milkweed

Welcome back! I hope the new year is off to a good start for you!

I would like to introduce you to Giant Milkweed (Calotropsis gigantea). I was not familiar with Giant Milkweed until I came across it at my local farmer's market. Boy, was I excited! I imagined Giant Monarchs (milkweed are host plants for monarchs) coming to visit this plant. I immediately purchased a couple and planted them in our garden.


Giant Milkweed on the left

Giant Milkweed is also known as bowstring hemp, crown flower, lechoso, and swallow wort. It is native to Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and India  and thus prefers zones 10a-11. It can grow up to 6 feet in Florida with leathery pale green leaves and white-lavender flowers. Giant Milkweed will produce fruit (similar to a large pod) that contains seeds in white fibers. As with most Milkweeds, it prefers full sun and drier soil. You can trim it back to encourage a bushier plant. Beware: its sap is poisonous!






Local friends: there is a lovely specimen on Park Avenue in Winter Park

 

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