Asclepias tuberosa, seen here in J.R.H.S 's Haden garden is the P.P.A.'s Perennial of the year With all the buzz lately about the decline of bees and Monarch butterflies and the loss of their native habitats, it's no wonder Asclepias tuberosa, a.k.a Butterfly Milkweed, has been selected as the Perennial Plant Association's perennial of the year for 2017. It's selection is a sign of the times.
Past perennial winners in this category are attractive, low care plants that are pest and disease resistant and include many of my favourites such as Russian sage, Japanese forest grass and Coreopsis 'moonbeam'. When I was a new gardener, I found that knowing the annual PPA winners was a great tool on which to base many of my new perennial selections. It's hard to go wrong with perennials on this list.
Butterfly Weed (not to be confused with Butterfly Bush) is a North American native and as its name implies, is a magnet for butterflies, hummingbirds and other beneficial insects. Plants in the milkweed family are the only food source for Monarch caterpillars and their adult butterfly butterflies. The plant is definitely NOT for human consumption, however, as it is known to be poisonous if ingested. This toxicity is transferred into adult monarch butterflies, protecting it against predators. It needs a sunny spot with good drainage and may be slow to emerge in spring. Once it is established in the garden, it doesn't like being moved due to the large taproot that anchors it in the soil, which it isn't too fussy about. I will definitely try to find a place in my garden for this cheery bright orange native plant this year, and may even try growing it from seed. (For more on native plants of Quebec see the space for life pages of the Montreal Botanical Gardens http://m.espacepourlavie.ca/en/native-plants-your-garden)
Past perennial winners in this category are attractive, low care plants that are pest and disease resistant and include many of my favourites such as Russian sage, Japanese forest grass and Coreopsis 'moonbeam'. When I was a new gardener, I found that knowing the annual PPA winners was a great tool on which to base many of my new perennial selections. It's hard to go wrong with perennials on this list.
Butterfly Weed (not to be confused with Butterfly Bush) is a North American native and as its name implies, is a magnet for butterflies, hummingbirds and other beneficial insects. Plants in the milkweed family are the only food source for Monarch caterpillars and their adult butterfly butterflies. The plant is definitely NOT for human consumption, however, as it is known to be poisonous if ingested. This toxicity is transferred into adult monarch butterflies, protecting it against predators. It needs a sunny spot with good drainage and may be slow to emerge in spring. Once it is established in the garden, it doesn't like being moved due to the large taproot that anchors it in the soil, which it isn't too fussy about. I will definitely try to find a place in my garden for this cheery bright orange native plant this year, and may even try growing it from seed. (For more on native plants of Quebec see the space for life pages of the Montreal Botanical Gardens http://m.espacepourlavie.ca/en/native-plants-your-garden)
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