Hawaii Native Milkweed
I'm so sorry.
No native milkweed for the state of Hawaii. There is milkweed present on the islands.
No native milkweed for the state of Hawaii. There is milkweed present on the islands.
Hawaii does have the monarch, Danaus plexippus, which is amazing and I hope to see there in October when I visit. Danaus butterflies can repeat their life cycle of many plants in the apocynaceae family. The predominant plant currently observed on the Hawaiian islands is Calotropis. C. procera and C. gigantea have been growing in Hawaii for many decades.
Locals use the common name of Queens Flower for Calotropis gigantea. The flower has been used for lei source: digicoll.manoa.hawaii.edu/hawaiiflowers/Pages/viewimage.php?img=1769&famNum=2
C. gigantea is propogated by cuttings from an existing plant. Seldom produces viable seeds.
C. procera is propagated by seed which germinate easily. Frequently produces viable seeds.
I have seeds of C. procera grown in south Texas in my store: www.growmilkweedplants.com/store/p59/procera.html
I also have C. procera seeds from Senegal Africa that are not listed for sale.
You could also pick them yourself from a nearby plant.
Locals use the common name of Queens Flower for Calotropis gigantea. The flower has been used for lei source: digicoll.manoa.hawaii.edu/hawaiiflowers/Pages/viewimage.php?img=1769&famNum=2
C. gigantea is propogated by cuttings from an existing plant. Seldom produces viable seeds.
C. procera is propagated by seed which germinate easily. Frequently produces viable seeds.
I have seeds of C. procera grown in south Texas in my store: www.growmilkweedplants.com/store/p59/procera.html
I also have C. procera seeds from Senegal Africa that are not listed for sale.
You could also pick them yourself from a nearby plant.
Calotropis gigantea is considered the "good neighbor" plant compared to Calotropis procera. That's because the latter spreads by seed in favorable conditions. Usually sandy dry areas are prone to seed dispersal colonizing an area. In addition to milkweed butterflies Hawaii has two native butterflies. The Koa Butterfly Udara blackburni #UdaraBlackburni and Kamehameha Butterfly Vanessa tameamea #VanessaTameamea. Host plants for the Koa are aalii Dodonaea viscosa #DodonaeaViscosa and dwarf koa Acacia koaia #AcaciaKoaia. Host plants for the Kamehameha is mamaki Pipturus albidus #PipturusAlbidus. There are other introduced butterflies like the Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae #AgraulisVanillae butterfly I've seen it hosting on stinking passionflower species eg. Passiflora foetida #Passiflorafoetida.
Calotropis procera has naturalized on the Hawaiian islands.
Image credit: Forest & Kim Starr
Calotropis gigantea has naturalized on the Hawaiian islands.
Image credit: Forest & Kim Starr
To help the monarchs, get passionate about milkweed.
Posted by YES! Magazine on Wednesday, November 28, 2018
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