Description
Plant Quick Facts
- Host Plant: Monarch and Queen butterfly caterpillars
- Nectar Source: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
- Growth Form: Evergreen shrub or small tree
- Sun Needs: Full sun
- Soil Preference: Well-draining, tolerates sand or gravel
- Watering: Low to moderate once established
- Zones: USDA 9–11
- Mature Size: 6–15 feet tall
- Bloom Season: Nearly year-round in warm climates
- Extra Notes: Handles coastal wind and dry heat with ease
We get a lot of questions about giant milkweed — mostly because of those leaves. They’re big, kind of soft to the touch, and they don’t wilt when it’s blazing hot. Monarchs find them fast. I’ve seen caterpillars wipe a plant clean in just a few days, which honestly feels like a good problem to have.
It’s a shrub, technically, but give it space and it’ll grow tall like a giant milkweed tree. No fancy soil needed. Just give it sun and decent drainage. Ours has handled sandy patches, driveways, even a dry hill that bakes all summer. No fertilizer, no problem.
The blooms aren’t flashy — little waxy stars in soft lavender or pale white. But they’re enough to keep the bees and hummingbirds coming around. If you’re working on a butterfly garden or just want something that can survive heat and salt air without falling apart, this one’s worth planting. It’s easy, tough, and quietly beautiful.
