Perennials - Butterfly Weed
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  (May) I had been told that wild butterfly weed was very hard to transplant so about three years ago I started my own from seed. All the seedlings survived and have multiplied. Now, I am dismayed by the black and orange beetles that invade my plants. How can I get rid of the beetles without harming the butterflies that feed on the flowers?

  What time of year do the beetles hit your plants? If they are coming early in the season--before the butterflies and their companion caterpillars, then you can use Rotenone (organic) or a permethrin. If they hit at the same time, you may want to use the old pick and stomp, or carry a bucket with some oil mixed in with the water, and knock the beetles into it. Any sprays that will kill a beetle, would also damage a butterfly if they are sprayed at the same time. There should be no residual carry-over if they are earlier in the season.

  (June) I live in Searcy and have tried several times to get butterfly weed seed to grow in my wild flower garden. I have several plants that are transplanted from the field that grow well but can't get the seeds to work. I really like the plant and would like more. How should I handle the seeds? When and how should I plant them?

  I really don't think there is anything special about getting butterfly weed seeds to germinate. Make sure you are harvesting mature seeds--once the pods have dried and started to split open. Then separate the small brown seeds from the pod and plant in the fall. October is the ideal time to plant most wildflowers in the state, but you can also direct sow them in the spring. Make sure you aren't planting them too deep or planting them in wet soil, the only things I know may inhibit germination.

  My husband & I have tried to dig up and transplant what we call butterfly plants. My husband said when he was small they called them chigger weed. We have not had much luck with transplanting them. We have gathered several seed pods and don't know what is the best way to save them. What is the best thing for us to do now with the seed pods and also next spring to plant. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

  Butterfly weed or Asclepias tuberosa is not an easy plant to transplant because of a tenacious taproot. They would need to be transplanted by the time they have formed their second set of leaves for transplanting to be effective. They do grow readily from seed. Prepare a seedbed now, and scatter the seeds on top, lightly covering them with soil. If you don't know where you want these plants once they emerge, sow the seeds in containers sunk into the ground to make transplanting easier next spring.

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