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Clear Lake Chapter

Propagating Native Milkweed

Greg Pearson shares his expertise about getting milkweed seeds to germinate and grow into healthy specimens.

Milkweed seedling
Photo courtesy of Greg Pearson.

All native milkweed seeds except A. perennis need pretreatment prior to attempting to germinate the seeds. Cold storage in your refrigerator is not enough. The seeds need to be subjected to cold moist stratification (CMS) in order to produce a good yield of germinating seeds.

CMS Procedure:

  1. Drill a drain hole in the bottom of an eight-ounce plastic cup and then fill the cup with vermiculite.

  2. Pour three eight-ounce cups of distilled water or rainwater through the vermiculite and then let the vermiculite drain for a few minutes. This procedure gives consistent results. Vermiculite that is too wet or too dry can lower your germination percentage.

  3. Place two or three tablespoons of moist vermiculite into a baggie. Add your milkweed seeds (20), seal the baggie and shake.

  4. Place the baggie into your refrigerator for 30 to 60 days.

  5. At the end of the CMS treatment place the baggie in a warm spot and watch for germination (two days to two weeks depending on the variety).

  6. Transfer the seedlings to a seed tray or a small pot. Adding a small amount of mycorrhiza to the soil produces healthy plants.

If you are interested in growing milkweed for the chapter’s plant sales, please contact us through our volunteer form. No experience is necessary.

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason