CROWN FLOWER giant milkweed Calotropis gigantea

Tropical & Exotic seeds > Other tropicals > CROWN FLOWER giant milkweed Calotropis gigantea

CROWN FLOWER giant milkweed Calotropis gigantea

white and lilac colored flowers, attracting butterflies and bees

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Also known as Swallow-wort. Medium sized to large shrub all parts of the plant contain milky latex and soft white tomentum. Lilac colored flowers are found arranged in an inflorescence, which is an umbellate cyme. Although its blooms can be seen all through the year, its flowers are particularly abundant during summer season. The plant also has medicinal valve. Its latex is used to remove thorns from the skin. The plant is hardy at least to zone 9 and drought tolerant.

Hardiness: Zones 9 - 11

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Sowing instructions

Place the seed in a bag of moist peat moss and keeping it in the refrigerator for ten to twelve weeks. Older seed will not require this cold period to break its dormancy. Direct seed butterfly weed outside, or grow the seedlings in a nursery bed until the plants have five or six leaves, at which time it should be moved to its permanent location. Give the seed proper attention while it is germinating though the mature plants will tolerate somewhat dry soils, the seedlings need to be kept moist until established. Fall-grown plants will provide moderate bloom the following year, with improved bloom in successive seasons.
If you prefer, you can start butterfly weed in the spring. Follow the same procedures as for fall sowing. Butterfly weed requires winter cold to bloom, so spring-sown plants will not bloom their first summer. However, the long summer days will allow the seedlings to grow into large plants which will produce many blooms the following year.