The Horsetail Milkweed is a wildflower that is native to the Western United States. It is an herbaceous perennial that has white flowers and slender leaves. The flowers have a sweet fragrance. Leaves are in whorls on the stem and the stems have the appearance of horsetail plants. Grows 2-4 feet tall. Flowers in the summer. It is a host plant for the monarch butterfly and a nectar plant for a variety of insects. It grows in sandy, well-drained, medium dry to dry soils. Hardy in zones 5-8.
Growing Instructions for the Horsetail Milkweed
The seeds have a period of dormancy. They can be planted outdoors in the fall or winter for spring germination or they can be cold stratified to simulate winter conditions and to break their dormancy at any time of the year. 1. Put the seeds in a ziplock bag. 3. Put the bag in the refrigerator and leave it there for 4 weeks. 2. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet. 3. Put the seeds on the soil. 4. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. 5. Water the seeds. 6. Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade 7. When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.