Milkweed (Matelea gonocarpa), commonly called climbing milkweed or anglepod, is a perennial twining vine native to the southeastern United States that reaches 3 feet tall and spreads 3 to 6 feet wide. Its heart-shaped leaves and delicate star-shaped flowers with greenish petals and purplish centers bloom from June through July, but the true magic lies in its ecological role: it is the essential host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars, whose strikingly striped larvae and gold-foiled chrysalises depend entirely on milkweed to complete their life cycle. Hardy in zones 3 through 3, this moderate-maintenance perennial thrives in full sun and moderate moisture, flowering about 80 days from seed. Growing milkweed transforms your garden into a monarch sanctuary at a time when habitat loss and pesticide exposure threaten these beloved butterflies from Canada to Mexico.
12
Full Sun
Moderate
3-3
36in H x 72in W
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Moderate
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The distinctive star-shaped flowers with purplish centers and the plant's twining vine habit set this variety apart, but its true significance lies in its role as the sole larval host plant for monarch butterflies. Native to rocky woods and thickets from Georgia to Texas, it carries the ecological weight of an entire species' survival on its heart-shaped leaves. The milky sap coursing through its pubescent stems is toxic to most herbivores but is precisely what monarch caterpillars need to thrive, making this one of the most important plants a gardener can grow.
Milkweed is grown primarily as a host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars and as an ornamental perennial that attracts pollinators to gardens. While not used for culinary purposes, its showy flowers and distinctive fruit contribute to garden interest during its June and July bloom period. Its twining vine habit makes it suitable for covering structures in sunny locations, allowing gardeners to create visually interesting plantings while simultaneously supporting monarch conservation efforts.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date, then transplant 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
Transplant seedlings outdoors 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date, spacing plants 12 inches apart.
Sow seeds outdoors 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, or in fall for spring germination.
As a twining vine, milkweed benefits from directional pruning to manage its growth along structures or within garden spaces. Remove dead or damaged growth in spring to encourage fresh vine development. Pruning should be moderate to preserve flowering capacity.
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“Matelea gonocarpa's story is one of ecological necessity rather than human cultivation. Native to the southeastern United States, occurring naturally from Georgia to Texas and north to Virginia and Missouri, this plant existed for millennia in open rocky woods and thickets before gardeners recognized its critical importance to monarchs. As habitat destruction and pesticide use have devastated wild monarch populations over the past few decades, seed companies like Hudson Valley Seed have actively promoted milkweed cultivation as a direct response to the butterfly's decline. The modern milkweed garden movement represents gardeners taking deliberate action to restore what development has taken away, transforming backyards into sanctuaries for one of North America's most iconic butterflies.”