Lacking a green thumb? Native plants are best

A native flower is hardy and —for those of us not born with a green thumb — will survive our gardening efforts. My faintly green opposing digit is a result of the many plants I have neglectfully terminated. Therefore, I like things that take care of themselves. Dead plants, after all, are rather ugly.

Plants grown even in the right place need care and nurturing when they are young. But the plants I love and tend to grow are the ones that, as they mature, become almost self-sustaining.

A common Missouri flower that is a beautiful addition to any garden is the butterfly weed. Knowing what you are purchasing can be a little confusing as it is known as milkweed or butterfly flower, and by several cultivar names in nursery catalogs. It falls under the genus Asclepias (pronounced a-/sklay/-pee-as). Asclepias is derived from Asklepios, a Greek god, who was the god of medicine and so-named because of the medicinal properties the tuberous root was believed to have. The milkweed common to our area is A. tuberose.

Asclepias has a long tap root and is drought-tolerant once established. It does not always transplant successfully because of the difficulty of getting the tap root, but it grows well from seed. It needs well-drained soil and consistent, even moisture while young.

Beautiful canoe-shaped pods break open and release seeds borne on silk-like white strands in July and August. It will self-seed for next spring.

The butterfly weed and the monarch butterfly are closely aligned. The plant contains chemicals that are poisonous to many insects and distasteful to birds. Would-be predators are poisoned by eating the monarch caterpillar. I guess even in the insect and aviary world the remaining clan puts two and two together and decides to avoid the monarch as a main course. The monarch caterpillar feeds on the milkweed and stores its poison. The butterfly that emerges later is also poisonous and unpalatable.

A. tuberosa grows wild from Mexico to Canada with bright-orange flat flower heads, which are fragrant and excellent for cutting. Monarchs travel by the millions between Mexico and Canada and have a continuous supply of butterfly weed en route. As they migrate, they breed. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of the milkweed, form a chrysalis and then emerge as adult butterflies and feed on the nectar from the flowers as they continue north, repeating the cycle. The northern journey takes five monarch lifecycles to complete. The chrysalis, if you are fortunate to find them, are beautiful lime-green pendants with a ribbon and dottings of gold around its perimeter.

It affirms that nature inspires art and jewelry. They are nothing short of lovely. Leave them where they are, and visit each day to watch the metamorphosis. In the fall, they turn south and reverse the migration. It appears to be genetically coded.

Milkweed comes in many colors and varieties, so it can be found wild in area habitats suited to each variety’s particular needs. If you would like to try Asclepias but are not fond of orange the unusual flowers of A. ovalifolia are purplish- to greenish-white. These species are about 18 inches tall and native to dry prairies. If you have a swampy, damp area, which would rot the roots of the A. tuberosa, you can still have a milkweed. Try the A. incarnata. It grows 4 to 5 feet in open, swampy conditions and has pink and red blooms.

Grow these lovely flowers in mass. Large sections of color will attract migrating butterflies and also look beautiful. If you just have a specimen or two, you may have to stake or, better yet, surround them with an annual or perennial that will help support them. Baby’s breath, coreopsis, aster and chrysanthemums grow well around their legs.

The main pests that can be bothersome on the butterfly weed are aphids. If you have a few plants, you can crush these soft-bodied insects between finger and thumb. They wash away nicely with a good spray from your garden hose, but you will need to do this often to keep them in check. Aphids produce a sticky substance as a result of their waste, which makes them very messy. Often, unless you use pesticides harmful to ladybugs, they will discover them, and nature will take its course. Check the underside of leaves and stems for these tiny pests and wash them off before they multiply. I like to avoid insecticides as most are poisonous to many beneficial insects, as well as your butterflies.

Asclepias do well in mid-Missouri. Plant a few, or start some from seed in a sunny spot and see how well a native can do in your yard. Enjoying the butterflies is a bonus.