RECENTLY ACQUIRED 3 HIGH BUSHES WITH BUBBLES TYPE GREEN BLOOMS?

"ball type bloom is the silk that monarch butterflies use to weave their cocoons to transition" The lady at the nursery is misinformed...caterpillars produce their own silk, they do not use plant material for anything but food. http://www.monarchbutterflyusa.com/Cycle.htm

Milkweed grows wild all over the US, especially abundant here in PA (zone 5b, harsh, long winters) no special care needed, give yours full sun and plenty of neglect.

Asclepias (probably A. fructicosa) is a milkweed called swan plant or goose plant. The monarch caterpillar actually feeds on this plant it doesnt use it for spinnig a cocoon. According to the Sunset Western Garden Book it likes full sun, and occasional to regular water. It does adapt to a number of different climate zones but only those were there is a relatively mild winter. If you get down in the mid to low teens where you live you may may have a problem protecting the plant. If you live in a real ci=old winter area consider finding and planting A. tuberosa called Butterfly weed. Monarch catepillars fedd on this plant also but it is native to the eastern US and is adaptable to almost all climate zones.

Where are you trying to grow asclepia incarnata? http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants...

Your swamp milkweed should do well in any decent garden soil, plant, water, mulch well.

The ball type bloom is typical for milkweeds.

Here's a page of Georgia milkweeds... Can't just have one!

http://www.eealliance.org/assets/Documents/MAG/fie...

Additional caterpillar information:

http://www.myspace.com/stone_t/blog/506056678

Asclepias is milkweed and is the monarch's favorite food. Asclepias is very easy to keep and requires no special care at all since it's basically a wild flower. Next summer they'll be full of butterflies who will love them to pieces!