Source for showy milkweed?

I'm interested in trying to attract butterflies, and would love to find out where I could obtain some showy milkweed for my garden in the hope that some monarchs will find them. Does anyone know a source where I can obtain some milkweed plants or seeds?

 

Might be easiest to collect it yourself, if you are planning any trips to the interior in hmmm... late August? Plenty of it along the roadside as you begin to ascend up the major hill from Ashcroft along the Highland Valley Road (Hwy 97C). I believe these are some of the plants I recall right here.

If not, I can ask a friend who collects seeds in the interior if she can grab some.

 

That is very kind of you, Daniel. Thanks for the offer. There is zero chance of going to the interior this summer. I can climb hills on foot with no problem but am terrified of driving in hilly areas and only go to higher places even locally like Golden Ears if a friend drives me and she won't be available this summer. Silly I know but that is life, isn't it? Now that you mention it though, about collecting seeds from the interior, I do have a distant relative who travels up there and will ask this young man if he would do it for his old auntie. Thanks so much for your help. Already I am seeing what a wonderful community this is.

 

You can buy seeds at Prairie Moon Nursery. They specialize in North American native plant seeds for restoration and gardening https://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-forbs/asclepias-speciosa-showy-milkweed.html

 

Thanks very much, Sundrop. That looks like a good source. Now I have both a Plan A and a Plan B.

 

Comment from my friend:

 

Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) is available at West Coast Seeds.

 

Wonderful! Sounds like lots of other people have the same idea; yes, probably because of David Suzuki's newsletter. I think I know the railway line in Coquitlam so I'll go have a look around there. Thanks, so much

 

Thanks for the source. I'll check out the Coquitlam site first and then, if that doesn't work out I'll check these other sources.

 

Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) is not native in BC, Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed) is.

 

Of course. Thank you. Didn't notice that but should have.

 

West Coast Seeds describes A. speciosa as invasive. Is this true?

 

It's not considered a bona fide noxious weed under the BC Weed Control Act, but they do have a factsheet page about it on one of the provincial weeds web pages.

I think this describes it best, from this page:

I would use the term "locally aggressive" if it finds itself in a situation where it is happy (and by local, I mean a garden bed).

 

Good to know. Means keeping this in a pot and making sure you deadhead then, I guess. I want to feed the butterflies but not start an invasion.