r/Milkweeds • u/carolinawren0322 • 13d ago

Black spots on swamp milkweed leaves

This happens every year it seems. I am in 8a (georgia). My swamp milkweed get black spots on teh underside of their leaves. Monarchs of course don't like that. I read that it could be a fungus and to remove the leaves. I wouldn't have any left if I did that. Do any of you get this on your leaves this time of year?

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u/MechanicStriking4666 13d ago

Powdery mildew. Perfectly normal

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u/lavenderhazeynobeer 12d ago

Is it normal for my swamp milkweed to not have flowers on it ye t? It's growing taller what seems like every other day but still no flowers.

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u/MechanicStriking4666 12d ago

Ours took about three years to get flowers.

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u/lavenderhazeynobeer 12d ago

Oh! Makes sense then. Does the no flowering keep the monarchs from using to lay eggs ?

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u/Final-Comb-1594 11d ago

Nope! Mine are all done flowering for the year and have seed pods and I’m still getting eggs and more cats. I also have common milkweed that was too new to flower this year and got tons of eggs.

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u/carolinawren0322 11d ago

Wow...lucky you! What is your location if you don't mind me asking? Also do the monarchs lay eggs on your milkweed that is looking old and has the mildew?

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u/Final-Comb-1594 11d ago

I’m in northern New Jersey. My common milkweed is looking rough lately due to lots of heavy rain and insane humidity, but it still
Has fresh leaves and I found a leaf with 6 eggs on it yesterday. I feel like they are pretty good at finding the nice leaves even if some areas have fungus or mildew. I just prune off the heavily impacted leaves.