Can You Grow Sesame Seeds In "Zone 5" Garden

Giant Swan Plant Milkweed for Monarchs

Gomphocarpus physocarpus: Asclepias physocarpa is the former botanical name, Goose plant, Giant swan plant, Hairy balls, Family jewels, Oscar, Cotton-bush, Balloon plant milkweed

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As the peculiar pods of Balloon Plant Milkweed start to ripen, they'll take on a deep sunburn. The September milkweed leaves remain viable for feeding late-season monarch caterpillars. More Photos, Info & Seeds...

Plant Specs:

Perennial for USDA hardiness zone 8 and above (lows -12.2 °C or 10 °F)
Fast growing annual for colder zones
Full sun to part shade
Height: 4 to 6 feet (can grow taller)
Spacing: 2 to 3 ft
Flowers: white with purple accents
Blooms mid to late summer
Not the same plant as its bushier brother swan milkweed

Plant Propagation:

Start seeds indoors 2 months before final frost
Sow seeds directly after final frost (not recommended below zone USDA zone 8)
Soak seeds in water 24 hours before planting, nocold stratification
Stem Cuttings
Start seeds in water
In annual zones, starting withplants is the best option to insure plants have time to seed

Asclepias physocarpa (ballon plant) pods — Great Balls of Milkweed!

Pros:

Fast growing annual milkweed
Can sustain lots of munching monarch caterpillars late season
Nectar source for monarch butterflies
Long stems with pods make amazing table centerpiece
Use long cuttings to feed caterpillars indoors
Last viable milkweed species before fall takes over

Balloon Plant Milkweed Flowers are Creamy White with Pretty Purple Highlights. The flowers contrast nicely against dark green milkweed leaves. — White Elegance with a Hint of Purple Passion

Cons:

Colder hardiness zones must start seeds indoors for hopes of a seed harvest, or overwinter indoors under cfl light bulbs
Flowers aren't super showy, but still pretty
Fewer pollinators use this than native milkweeds

Goose Growing Tips:

By taking stem cuttings of Gomphocarpus physocarpus, you can make a unique centrpiece while also giving milkweed seeds more time to develop indoors. More info and find seeds for your garden... — A Unique Centerpiece + More Time for Milkweed Seeds!

Start seeds indoors 1-2 months before avg last frost
Seeds germinate in less than one week with heat and moisture
Use an oscillating clip fan on seedlings to strengthen the stems to simulate an outdoor breeze…a must for strong stems!
Grow this as a back border so it doesn't shade your other butterfly plants
Cut I- you can cut them back late spring for bushier growth
Staking may be required if not cut back in perennial zones
Cut II- Is fall setting in before seeds are ready to harvest? Take stem cuttings with the largest pods (leave seed pods attached) and place them in water. This should give them the time they need to finish developing.
Don't force open seed pods…they will start to open when they are ready

You'll know balloon plant milkweed seeds are ready to harvest when the seam starts to split, revealing the dark brown seeds inside. If the seeds aren't ripe before your first hard freeze, take a stem cutting from the plant (with the pods attached) and put it in a vase inside. This will give the seeds a couple more weeks to fully develop. — Open Sesame!

Pollinator Plus:

The most frequent visitor I've noticed up north is the blue mud dauber (black wasp). Recently, I've also noticed monarchs and hummingbirds sipping nectar from it. If you have noticed other pollinators on the goose plant, please leave a comment below.

nature note: Though the mud daubers look ominous, they have never shown aggression in our garden. They're also frequent visitors to our swamp and tropical milkweed plants.

Monarchs use Balloon Plant as both a host plant for caterpillars and nectar plant for adult butterflies.

Resources:

1. Purchase Balloon Milkweed Plants or Seeds from Joyful Butterfly

2. Find More Balloon Plants Seeds on Etsy

One more time: starting seeds indoors early will give you a huge jump on the season and is a must for northern gardeners. This milkweed species is a rare find in nurseries, so seeds are probably your only option in most regions.

Click here to Explore other Milkweed Options for your Butterfly Garden

Please read comments below for more info about growing Gomphocarpus physocarpus in your garden:

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