Here’s a surprise. Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is listed as invasive in Europe!
In North America we’re urged to plant milkweed to provide food for monarch butterflies but in Europe it’s so out of control that people struggle to get rid of it.
What is missing in Europe that keeps common milkweed in balance with other plants here in North America?
If we could answer that question — in reverse — for Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) we’d have happier landscapes in North America.
(photo by Kate St. John)
Noticed hope spending a lot of time in nest box during last couple days. Empty nest syndrome??? Any spotting of the kids?
One of the juvies has been seen often at Mellon Institute, screaming at her parents for food. Perhaps Hope is at the nest to avoid the screamer. The juveniles rarely visit the nest after they fledge.
Perhaps Europe doesn’t use the toxic pesticides and herbicides we do here?
I love milkweed flowers! And then the beautiful fluffs. And the gorgeous pods. And the monarchs! I can’t get enough of milkweeds and monarchs!
Of course they use toxic chemicals in Europe. In the article on Japanese Knotweed that Kate linked it says the best remedy is repeated spraying with glyphosate.
Actually pesticides are regulated in most European countries and not easy to get your hands on.