Is tweedia a cut and come again?
Tweedia is a short-lived perennial in zones 9-10. Grow as an annual elsewhere. For cut flowers, sear stem ends to prevent wilt. Excellent vase life. It is recommended to prune the milkweed stalks to about 6 inches in height during the fall and winter months to discourage monarchs from establishing winter-breeding colonies. Cutting back the milkweed will also help to eliminate OE spores that may be present on the plant.The toxins present in milkweed leaves protect the monarch eggs and caterpillars from predators. Caterpillar Food Source: Monarch caterpillars are specially adapted to feed on milkweed. They store and utilize the milkweed toxins as a defense mechanism, which makes them unpalatable to many predators.Tweedia is lovely as a cut flower but is also a useful food plant for butterflies, so much so that we have included it in our new selection called Butterfly Beauties – a selection of varieties you can sow to attract butterflies to your garden.Yes, milkweed contains cardiac glycosides, toxic compounds that can be harmful to humans, pets, and livestock if ingested in large quantities. These toxins affect the heart and can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and confusion. The plant’s milky sap can also cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.Plant milkweed in clumps so that monarch caterpillars can crawl between them to forage. Plant with an eye for multi-season blooms of native plants so that monarch butterflies have nectar sources throughout the growing season!