— Bobby Gendron. Silky Gold Milkweed. It grows 30 inches tall and 12 inches wide. This species is native to South America but has become a naturalized weed in tropical and subtropical pastures, fields and disturbed areas throughout the world, including central and southern Florida. Unlike the milkweed species native to these locations, the tropical milkweed does not go dormant in the winter causing non-migratory groups of butterflies to form. Family: Apocynaceae Subfamily:Asclepiadoideae Tribe:Asclepiadeae Subtribe:AsclepiadinaeGenus: Asclepias This is the same plant as the more common red and yellow Tropical Milkweed however it’s flowers are all gold/yellow instead. Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold' Item 6634. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. The flowers, appearing in late spring to late fall, are on long stems bearing 3 to 4 inch long clusters of golden-yellow flowers that like others in this family not only have a calyx row of 5 sepals and above this the corolla of 5 petals but also and additional of appendages covering the stamens called a corona. Family: Apocynaceae (Dogbanes & Milkweeds), Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold' (Golden Butterflyweed) - This is an all yellow form of the typically orange and yellow Butterfly Weed, also known as Tropical Milkweed, a tender evergreen perennial is prized for attracting butterflies, particularly the Monarch Butterfly, into the garden. Although tender to frost this plant is root hardy to at least 15 F. Mulch if gardening in climates experiencing harder frosts or keep in a container that can be brought indoors in colder climates. It is called the asclepias curassavica. Where to find the milkweed and how to grow the milkweed plants. Butterfly milkweed grows on sandy, loamy, or rocky limestone soils of prairies, open Use of the tropical milkweed in gardens has disrupted monarch migrations notably in California, Texas, Florida, and South Carolina. Another article lists the following: Native Larval Host Plants for Monarchs in South Florida. Sitemap The specific epithet means of Curacao (Dutch Antilles) in reference to its origin from this South American location. The flowers are followed by 3 inch long spindle-shaped seedpods that produces viable seed - this plant readily self-seeds to perpetuate itself within the garden. Collect the silky seed pods as they develop. At least that is my guess! ‘Silky Gold’ sports yellow blooms. Grows best in light, rich, evenly moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold' (Golden Butterflyweed) - This is an all yellow form of the typically orange and yellow Butterfly Weed, also known as Tropical Milkweed, a tender evergreen perennial is prized for attracting butterflies, particularly the Monarch Butterfly, into the garden. This easy care plant mixes beautifully with other tall perennials and is ideal for naturalized areas, meadows, and borders. This is the host plant to the classic Monarch butterfly, but it also hosts its “lookalikes” the Queen and the Soldier butterflies. Make sure to locate the Silky Gold Milkweed is located in a spot that receives full sun. Packet contains a minimum of 25 “Silky Gold” Tropical Milkweed seeds. The quintessential butterfly garden plant. Photo #13/27 of Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold'). An exotic yellow variety of tropical milkweed from South America. It can be weedy in disturbed areas and is often found naturalized in waste places, roadsides, or fields. Asclepias curassavica cultivars have been implicated in being a vector for a protazoan parasite OE that infects Monarch Butterflies. If you plant tropical milkweed in your home landscape, do so with caution. The common milkweed, Asclepias syriacqa, is one of the best known wild plants in North America.Children love to play with the downy fluff in autumn, while farmers despise it as a tenacious weed of hayfields and pastures. Bright orange-red flowers form in clusters on top of leaves and stems that have a milky juice when damaged. An exotic yellow variety of tropical milkweed from South America. Both provide food for monarch and queen caterpillars and butterflies. Milkweed is the plant choice of monarch butterflies, and milkweed can be planted to attract monarchs. It is the host plant for Monarch and Queen butterfly caterpillars. Milkweed: Silky Gold and Scarlet Mix Asclepias curassavica Nectar and Larval Host Plant Monarch and Queen butterflies Package of Seeds ... Coconut Creek, FL, 33073, https://www.butterflyworld.com. Growing Instructions: Start Tropical Milkweed seeds outdoors in the spring after the danger of nighttime freezing has past. The name for the genus was one that Carl Linnaeus ascribed after Asclepius (Asklepios), the Greek god of medicine and healing because of the many folk-medicinal uses for the milkweed plants. There are very few rules in gardening, but perhaps the most important one is to work within your zone. A resilient species of milkweed; it’s irresistible to these butterflies and will draw them in from miles away! Plant seeds 1/8" deep and 18” apart, using 3 seeds per hole. Plants are noted for being weedy in their native tropical habitats and in warm winter areas such as the deep South where they will self-seed somewhat profusel… Pick a location with full sun and prepare soil for good drainage, if needed. Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) at first glance seems to be a desirable garden plant given that it is a host plant for the monarch butterfly.Since we know the monarch population is in serious jeopardy, we might assume that tropical milkweed would help to slow the decline. This easy care plant mixes beautifully with other tall perennials and is ideal for naturalized areas, meadows, and borders. Be the first to review this product! Tropical milkweed blooms during much of the year and reseeds freely. Gardeners should also cut it back to ground-level once a year. Large clusters of golden yellow flowers are displayed against yellow-green foliage. Both a food source for adult monarch butterflies and a host plant for their caterpillars. Silky Gold Milkweed - Asclepias curassavica, unusual clusters of pure golden-yellow blooms, 3" flowers attract butterflies all summer until frost. Noted for its very long blooming season, Asclepias curassavica (Tropical Milkweed) is an upright evergreen sub-shrub boasting eye-catching clusters of orange-red flowers adorned with yellow hoods from early summer to fall. Start seed indoors in pots 8-10 weeks before last spring frost date. Noted for its very long blooming season, Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Deep Red' (Tropical Milkweed) is an upright evergreen sub-shrub boasting eye-catching clusters of deep red flowers adorned with bright yellow hoods from late spring to late fall. Add to Favorites . Habitat loss in both the United States and Mexico remains the biggest threat to the Monarch Butterfly but recent studies indicate that native wilkweeds, such as. Due to all the negative posts I have read about Tropical MW, I am relegating it to the far side of the garden. Growing 3 to 4 feet tall by as wide this plant has narrow 6 inch long yellow-green lance-shaped leaves. Choosing plants that grow and thrive in your particular climate is the very first step toward having a … "The Silky Gold cultivar of Tropical Milkweed boasts pure yellow flowers. Plants thrive in hot weather. Grows 2' - 3' tall. A. Silky Gold Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica ' silky gold') Ornamental variety of milkweed, also called tropical milkweed or mexican milkweed, Silky Gold produces large golden yellow flower heads that attract Monarchs and other butterflies. To get a head start, seeds can be planted indoors in the late winter. Growing the plants will attract and feed these beautiful butterflies. Tolerates some light shade. They are frost tender, so a tip to keeping them as long as you can is to plant them close to the house. A good plant mixed with other tall perennials and the long stems are excellent for cutting. Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold' (Golden Butterflyweed) - This is an all yellow form of the typically orange and yellow Butterfly Weed, also known as Tropical Milkweed, a tender evergreen perennial is prized for attracting butterflies, particularly the Monarch Butterfly, into the garden. Asclepias Silky Gold is a solid Monarch attractor but it is also one of the tropical milkweeds that have been in the news for the wrong reasons. Tropical Milkweed is a tender erect perennial often grown as an annual. The foliage is a light green and I’ve noticed monarchs seem to like to lay eggs on this species because the leaves are so tender. Click here for more info. The flowers are a great source of nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial insects. ... 'Silky Gold' 'Red Butterfly', 'Silky Gold' Tags: But you may be asking, “should I prune milkweed.” Milkweed pruning isn’t really necessary, but deadheading milkweed can enhance appearance and encourage further flowering. Powered by BigCommerce. Once the seedlings reach 1", thin out so you have individual plants spaced 18” apart. Cut back in the fall after all caterpillars are gone (often left leafless by them) but be wary of the milky sap, which can cause irritation and injury to eyes and is poisonous if ingested. The Silky Gold milkweed also has a botanical name. But I am unsure where to plant my Silky Gold. This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and give occasional to regular irrigation. Zones 10-11 Water regularly allowing the soil to go nearly dry between each watering. Keep the soil evenly moist until the seeds germinate in 10 - 20 days. Asclepias curassavica is native to the American tropics and is a host plant/food source to the Monarch The difference is that Scarlet or Mexican milkweed has yellow flowers coming out of red buds while the Silky Gold milkweed is completely yellow. An excellent butterfly nectar plant and attracts Monarch butterflies as an egg laying host as it is the sole food source for Monarch caterpillars (don't remove those fantastic large-horned, black and yellow-striped caterpillars). Plant database entry for Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold') with 27 images, one comment, and 35 data details. It tolerates heat, resists grazing by rabbits and deer, and is incredibly easy to grow. On this cultivar all of the petals and corona are a deep golden yellow. I am curious about the Silky Gold Milkweed. There is also Asclepias curassavica ‘Silky Gold’, Golden butterfly weed that produces yellow flowers. Asclepias curassavica ‘Silky Gold’ An exotic yellow variety of tropical milkweed from South America. The key features most appreciated by gardeners are; Easy-Care Perennial, It blooms throughout the Summer months. Transplant outdoors after the danger of nighttime freezing has past. The flowers are a great source of nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial insects. Bright, golden yellow flowers appear atop the stems of this milkweed all summer long. Caption: Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold' behind Coneflowers. Florida has twenty-one milkweed plants native to the state. By Sam Thayer – Milkweed plant isn’t your average weed; in fact, I feel guilty calling it a weed at all. This species has showy flowers, is easy to grow and reliably attracts monarchs. The extra shelter may even help them survive the winter." Large clusters of golden yellow flowers are displayed against yellow-green foliage. This easy care plant mixes beautifully with other tall perennials and is ideal for naturalized areas, mea Other common names include Bloodflower, Swallow-wort, Hierba de la Cucaracha, Mexican Butterfly-weed, Scarlet milkweed, and Wild Ipecacuanha. Zones. In St. Louis, it is grown as an annual. Photo Location: Elberfeld, Indiana on 2016-07-22. Water regularly- weekly, or more often in extreme heat. Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold' A tropical butterfly weed (or milkweed), Silky Gold produces golden-yellow flowers all the way until frost in the North and all year long in frost-free areas. Fertilize monthly in the summer with a general purpose fertilizer. { on the other side of the air conditioner}. Learn about Florida's milkweed species. instock POS ID: 147309 . I have several other Varieties I am growing. Curtiss’ milkweed (Asclepias curtisii) Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) It is easily grown from seed each year. Large clusters of golden yellow flowers are displayed against yellow-green foliage. This milkweed is fast growing to 3 – 4 ft. tall, and 2 – 3 ft. wide. Is it considered a cultivar of the Tropical milkweed. We promise to never spam you, and just use your email address to identify you as a valid customer. Perennial zones 8a-11. These annual butterfly milkweeds are covered with vivid … Asclepias curassavica 'Silky Gold' Be the first to review this product . It shares this name with Scarlet Milkweed or Bloodflower, since it a version of the more common Bloodflower. Tropical milkweed's popularity as a landscape plant may help the monarchs regain territory. Silky Gold Milkweed is an all-around crowd pleaser that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, including monarchs. Plant seedlings outside after last frost date. Live plant in 3 … Reading Time: 7 minutes Milkweed in flower. Tolerates some soil dryness. Silky Gold Tropical Milkweed. Blood flower is winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-11. I believe the native milkweed there is swamp milkweed, but according to this article, Florida has 20 native species (8 of which are native to South Florida). Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) Butterfly milkweed is a perennial herb 1 to 2½ ft. tall with bright orange-red flowers and is often found growing in clumps beside roadways, on abandoned farmlands, and in other open areas throughout the United States. Silky Gold Tropical Milkweed - Monarch Butterfly Host Plant $29.99. All prices are in USD © 2021 Butterfly Encounters. In Florida, we see migrating monarchs in spring and fall, but also see year-round butterflies who take advantage of our warm climate and the prevalence of non-native tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica). Most appreciated by gardeners are ; Easy-Care Perennial, it is the plant. Milkweed however it ’ s irresistible to these butterflies and a host for! Location with full sun and prepare soil for good drainage, if needed the.. The year and reseeds freely general purpose fertilizer on the other side of the year and reseeds freely gardens disrupted! 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