How to collect and plant butterfly milkweed seeds?
CAlexander
| Posted in Northeast Gardening on
A few questions about this- my butterfly milkweed pods are opening. I cut the pods off and collected them in a paper bag. I’m not clear on a few things regarding sowing…
Do I absolutely need to remove the floss/silk from the seeds before I sow? I saw a lot of tips on how to do this – but is it necessary?
Everything online is mentioning cold stratification – can’t I just spread them out in the area I want them to seed now and let nature do its job?
Should I wait to place seed outside later on/in the fall?
I want to use these to battle an area where knotweed and mugwort are starting to take over – what are the changes the milkweed can overpower these invasives?
Thank you!
Replies
You don't need to take off the floss for germination, but it does make the seed easier to handle and keep in place. I find the seed drops off the floss pretty readily. You can definitely spread it where you want it to grow, preferably without floss so that it stays put. I find that different milkweeds behave differently as far as germination requirements. Common, whorled, and poke milkweed do best with direct sowing in fall and need cold stratification, while butterfly and swamp milkweed can germinate without it. I'd wait to put down seed until late fall for a few reasons. You can kill off any late germinating cold weather weeds, you don't risk some of your seed germinating too soon and getting killed by freeze, and with some luck, you'll get a layer of snow to keep your seed cozy and in place. The first reason is key. Lots of weeds will still germinate now, making it difficult to manage the spot. As far as competing with knotweed and mugwort, I don't think much can. Goldenrod is the only native plant I can think of that stands a chance! You'd be best to prepare your site as well as possible, with special attention to killing the knotweed.
Thanks Chloe! That all makes sense. Appreciate the tips. : )