🍋‍🟩Hairy "Limes" for Monarch Caterpillars❓🐛

Two late-season host plants for your 🦋 garden...

April 17, 2025

Good Thursday Royal RAISEr,

Milkweed madness continues with two more milkweed species that are often confused, which is another reminder of why you should always use botanical/scientific names when purchasing plants.

Milkweed Madness GOMPHOCARPUS edition 🌿🌿🧐

These milkweed species are not native to north America, but they are fast growing annuals in our northern garden. (We've grown both successfully in Minnesota)

They're commonly grown in Australia and New Zealand ⬅️. Though similar, they have different growth habits and the pods are the easiest way to differentiate them.

The Giant Swan Plant is often referred to as 'hairy balls' for obvious reasons I won't go into (don't shoot the messenger)

I am suggesting a new common name for Swan plant (#2) that is also derived from the shape/appearance of the pod, but a more family-friendly common name, I hope you'll agree? 

1. Gomphocarpus Physocarpus ⬅️ (Giant Swan Plant- click to see the peculiarly-shaped pods)

This has been used as both host plant and (less-often) nectar source for monarchs in our Minnesota garden.

Both of these varieties maintain healthy, green leaves throughout the season so you’re most likely to find eggs/caterpillars on these plants toward the end of the season when the natives are in decline, just before the great fall migration!

2. Gomphocarpus Fruticosus ⬅️ (Swan Plant- click to see bolded common name suggestion 🍋‍🟩 and more PHOTOS and growing tips )

We have not planted this variety for a few years, but it was a reliably-used host plant in our northern garden.

Coming Up Next

On Saturday, I'll be back with a special Easter edition newsletter on where to hunt for Easter MONARCH Eggs 🥚🌱🦋 🐇

Until Next time,

Tony your Butterfly Guide