I have long been hearing and reading things about milkweed for a long time. It is famous because it is the host for the even more famous monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, which comes to the US from Mexico for a very long dramatic urge for something they haven't yet known why! The genetic make up of this butterfly is so unique, i guess!
Then this milkweed is also controversial because it is said to suffer extinction in a place bombarded by a GMO herbicide that is reported to be erradicationg all weeds. Others also do not like it for being almost invasive that becomes a dilemma for farmers. Then comes the other sector at the other side of the fence, conserving the milkweed for the balance of biodiversity that is threatened by so many "advance technology" chemicals and so called development.
Being not familiar with this weed, i got curious. I thought it is only growing in temperate countries, where a lot of controversies lie. Eventually, when i got addicted to growing hoyas, i learned that they are in the same family, Aclepiadaceae. Oh that even heightens my curiosity more! Lo and behold, when i visited (highlands) Baguio City last December i saw it in the Botanical Garden. This is Asclepias curassavica, also a host for the monarchs found here, Danaus chrysippus & Danaus melanippus, different species from the famous one. I got some seeds to try in our hot lowlands, and it thrive very well as you can see in the following photos.
growth is healthy without any predator at all, our monarchs haven't seen it yet
there are different stages of blooming maturity in one stem, so i can see flowers every weekend
it gave me lots of photography angles and each single one is lovely
those seemingly dancing ladies in their vivid red gowns are so attractive
I can see the flower parts resembling that of the hoya, being in the same family. It has been flowering since February and hasn't stopped since then.
