Gomphocarpus Species, Arizona Milkweed, Swan Plant Milkweed, Tennis Ball Bush

I like this plant as it creates food for the Monarch butterfly larvae. It grows large, mine is a good five foot tall, but not so big as ...Read Moreit's cousin "Hairy Balls" milkweed which I don't like as it is so big it is a major project to cut it back in winter. Gomphocarpus makes a lot more leaves so I don't run out of food like I have in the past with just he Asclepias curassavica in the "Butterfly Garden". I have Monarchs in all stages on it, from eggs to cocoon.

This is an amazing plant and I can not figure out why it is not available in nurseries! It has deep roots and petite white/purple flowers...Read More! It grows quite tall (mine are as tall as 5 feet), likes full sun, tolerates FL heat, and is relatively drought tolerant. I have a garden just for monarchs and this is my favorite milkweed! Monarchs and Queens love to lay eggs on the leaves and munch on it! So much that I have not had any of the seed pods develop yet. I just ordered more seeds online because I want more of this milkweed!!!!

I started my plants from seed from one of my generous neighbors and it was very easy. I have had them for about 18 months.

So glad to find this picture. I have this plant and it had been mislabeld as Swamp Milkweed. The ball shaped seed pods create lots of i...Read Morenterest as people walk past my front yard. I did let it get a little too tall but need to wait til this growing season is over to begin a cut-back. Grows quickly

If cultivated (watered regularly, no competition), this species blooms it's first year and will produce seed pods. The pods begin to get ...Read Morea slight brownish color but remain mostly green when it opens. The seed disperses within the first hour of opening, and quicker if a wind is blowing. In a very light wind, the seed shouldn't travel very far ~ 10 feet.