In the Garden with Dewey: The Giant Milkweed (Calotropis Gigantea)
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Join St George Village Botanical Garden's Executive Director, Dewey Hollister, as he discussed the Giant Mikweed (Calotropis Gigantea) aka Crown Flower an introduced species to St Croix, originating from India, Southeast Asia and tropical Africa. It's a favorite of the islands non-migrating Monarch butterfly species. Learn more about this beautiful tree!
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Located on St Croix in the United States Virgin Islands, the St. George Village Botanical Garden is a 16- acre garden situated among the buildings and ruins of an 18th and 19th-century sugar cane plantation. This site overlaps an Amerindian settlement which dates back to c.100 A.D.
The Garden’s botanical collections feature over 1,000 varieties of plants that demonstrate the horticultural potential for the U.S. Virgin Islands and emphasize the cultural and historical value of plants as a source of food, medicine, fiber, color dyes, and building material in the Caribbean.
For more information about our collections, events and more visit www.sgvgb.org
As a child, I have lived in Jaipur, capital of the desert state Rajasthan in India. We were living in the area, then being developed, and some govt colonies were built and quarters were built for govt employees. Behind the quarters, it was sand doons for miles and miles. And this plant was everywhere in sand doons. In that area it didn't grow higher than 4 - 5 feet at the most. Although, it grew sideways fairly wide. Had clusters of light purply white flowers with deep purple tips of petals. The leaves are fleshy sort of succulent, with powdery fuzzy surfaces both sides. I had never imagined, there'll be a time that I'd need this plant, ever. Now, here I am looking to find just a 6 to 8"piece of its root. And it is nowhere to be found in East coast of continental USA. I don't know if it grows in New Mexico, or Arizona or such.
That is a Calotropis Procera or Sodom's Apple. It is one of two "Giant Milkweed" species. The Crown Flower is the other Giant Milkweed species, Calotropis Gigantea. The leaves and stems of both species are nearly identical. They both originated in the same regions. You can tell them apart by their flowers and seed pods. Just wanted to help clear up the confusion.
Man, the size of those seed pockets! 🤯🤯😲😲😳😳 Seriously, never seen such a big size and so many of them on one single plant! 🙏
Hi Dewey, I live in central fla. & have a giant milkweed tree. I love this tree but lately the leaves are turning yellow & falling off.....I've been researching this for a while & it looks like it's rust the fungus. :( I have a butterfly garden & what can I do to try to eliminate this fungus fairly safely? ty
Where did you buy that plant?
Very good info. Thank you. Indians use this Milkweed in their religious functions. I would love to get some of the seeds.
Good day sir! Your newly subscriber here , I'm just curious about colotropis gigantea/crown flower, may you please give me some or short info. About it if where is the origin of this plant and is it really a native or exotic to PHILIPPINES?
Thank you and we'll appreciated for your answer in advance.. 😊
Can Anyone help - How can I get this plant at Petlauma, California - 94952 ?
Can You send seeds please ?
Question. I just got a 5ft version of this plant can I prune it to keep it small or will it still become massive like the one in your video?
Yes you can i cut my way down to the ground it s always grow again
I have one in my yard but it s in the wrong place how can i make another one from it can i plant a cut piece
@Nancy McDole Try simple layering. Grab a semi hard stem, peel off the outer layer, and layer with soil. Detach from the parent plant when sufficient roots have developed. Even if it fails the first time, you can try again with another stem.
They grow from seed and rhizomes, many calotropis gigantea around my place they always regrow around the place where everytime people cut them off the ground.
Lanky and odd. Ours has tripled in size since I picked it up in Spring.
Haven't seen much of anything go near it in North East Florida. To be honest it's been a generally light year for caterpillars and butterfly in our yard this year.
Did you get more butterfly action as the summer ended? We sure did in Sarasota. I’ve bought 10 Giant Milkweed plants to keep up with feeding the ever increasing caterpillar population. They sure eat a lot!
UN bilivabl here in Punjab,can't b cm so giant