Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants

See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer

1 rating

Wednesday - July 29, 2015

From: Pleasanton, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Butterfly Gardens, Propagation, Seeds and Seeding, Shade Tolerant, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Growing Green milkweed vine from seed
Answered by: Guy Thompson

QUESTION:

I was given some seed for the pearl milkweed vine which I intend to plant, but I can find no information on whether to stratify or scarify them or just plant them. I know some milkweeds require stratification and others scarification, but have been unable to find anything about these. Help!

ANSWER:

I have found no special technique for germinating Matelea reticulata (Green milkweed vine) seed. It seems to be assumed that all our local native milkweed seed respond well to the same preplanting treatment. Here is a procedure recommended by Native American Seed. It involves washing out natural inhibitors and then stratification. Scarification doesn't seem necessary. Good luck in your efforts. This milkweed is a host plant for the endangered Monarch butterfly.

From the Image Gallery

Pearl milkweed vine
Matelea reticulata