While there are over a hundred different species of milkweed in the U.S., this is a sure-fire winner in every butterfly garden. Tropical milkweed is an annual variety which is hard to find, but is well worth the effort. It is both a host and nectar plant. In the fall, you'll see some older monarchs laying eggs on it and other migrating monarchs nectaring from it's golden buds.

Another nice feature is that it will root readily in ordinary water and thus you can multiply one plant into many.

It's not picky about sunshine and will grow in almost any situation.

I usually start mine indoors in March and they will continue to bloom until you have a hard frost.

Make sure you keep some of the seed pods for next year's crop. The will not reseed themselves in cold climates.

They like warm temperatures to germinate so I usually start them, in a mini-nursery which has the plastic dome. I them lay the shop lights right on top of the plastic top and it keeps the seeds nice and warm. After they germinate, remove the top, but keep the lights as close as possible.