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By Rama K. Ramaswamy
Sustainable Wellesley (SW) is offering a new variety of milkweed plant this season: asclepias tuberosa.
“We are so happy with the support that Wellesley residents (and some folks from neighboring towns) have shown for the monarchs,” said Laurel Landers from Sustainable Wellesley. “Through our initiative, neighbors have planted more than 400 milkweed plants in the last two years. We are hopeful that the movement will continue to grow and the monarchs will be returned to their former numbers.”
“This is a wonderful plant that is very happy in a sunny spot in your pesticide-free garden,” according to Sustainable Wellesley. “In addition to providing the nutrients that are essential to baby monarch caterpillars, it provides nectar that attracts other butterflies and pollinators, including hummingbirds. It is a lower growing variety of milkweed plant and one that is perfect for a perennial garden or wilder meadow garden. The vibrant orange to coral color provides a bright spot in the garden and is very attractive to pollinators!”
Another suggestion made by SW: “you might also want to try asclepias syriaca, which are bigger and slightly more vigorous than the tuberosa and also easy to grow. Folks with wilder gardens will really love them. They are very nectar rich, attracting many pollinators, providing habitat for the monarch caterpillars. They grow to about three feet in height and are light pink to purple color. All plants have been grown from locally collected seed at Nasami Farms, grower for the New England Wildflower Society, and are one year old ‘plugs.’ They can be purchased for $2 at cost, or $5 with a small donation to Sustainable Wellesley.”
A variety of organic milkweeds can be ordered at www.sustainablewellesley.com/store/.
