Q: I believe I have the Mexican milkweed in my garden and would like to replace it. Online I see Asclepias tuberosa and Asclepias lanceolata as well as the incarnata. Which one should I choose?

A: Almost all of Florida’s 21 milkweeds are native, and at least two of them are native only to Florida (endemic). Milkweeds are frequently encountered throughout the state, and the rest of North America. Different species are found in very wet habitats as well as in very dry ones. A few of the butterfly weed listed here are commonly found in Florida so feel free to choose any of them: Butterfly weed, Asclepias uberose; Florida milkweed, Asclepias longifolia; Fewflower milkweed – Asclepias lanceolata, Pinewoods milkweed, Asclepias humistrata. Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnate is native to the lower 48 states. Milkweeds grow most abundantly in disturbed habitats such as agricultural landscapes and along roadsides, but they are in decline for several reasons. Urban and suburban development is eliminating monarch habitat by supplanting agricultural landscapes where an estimated 90% of milkweeds occur therefore we applaud your efforts to add some these to your landscape. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in780

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