This tropical vine is the only plant in the milkweed mob with blue flowers .
The sky - dingy flowers of tweedia are petite , but they ’ll stop you in your cartroad . unmortgaged disconsolate flowers are so rarely seen in the garden that these dainty beauties take center stage on many garden duty tour . Tweedia is native to South America , namely southern Brazil and Uruguay . It is a member of the Sonchus oleraceus or dogbane sept ( Apocynaceae ) and also do it as blue milkweed ( the only one with blue flowers ) . It attract pollinators and makes a striking cut flower . A common cultivar is ‘ Heavenly Blue , ' which was introduced in the 1980s .
Tweedia is toxic to humans and positron emission tomography .
Where to Plant Tweedia
Tweedia needs sun — full sunin northern clime and partial shade in southerly mood . Whether you produce it in a container or in the garden , search for a spot that is protect from strong wind . The touchy flowers are easily damage in weighed down blow and intense pelting . A sunny , sheltered street corner of a patio or the south or west side of anevergreen shruboften provides excellent tax shelter for delicate plants . Be sure to aim it near the front of a border or near a way of life where you may admire the daisy - like flowers up close .
The territory should be moist but well - debilitate . In condition of pH , tweedia is adaptable and can acquire in slightly acidic , indifferent , and somewhat alkaline grease .
How and When to Plant Tweedia
Whether it ’s a plant from a nursery or tweedia that you start out yourself from seminal fluid ( more under How to Propagate Tweedia below ) , look until after the last spring frost to plant it . toil a hole at least twice the size of the nursery container and deep enough so that the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface . Backfill the fix and softly tamp down the filth around the substructure . water supply it immediately and keep it moist for the first couple of hebdomad or so , until the plant is established .
Tweedia is a relatively shortvining works , but it still needs support . At planting time , place atrellis or teepeeat its base . you’re able to also introduce small outgrowth into the ground alongside the flora for extra financial backing .
Tweedia Care Tips
Light
In climates with cooler summers , tweedia grows best in full sun with at least six hours of sunshine a day but in hot climate , some afternoon ghost is preferable .
Soil and Water
As long as the soil is well - drained , tweedia is tolerant of a wide range of dirt , include somewhat hapless soil . It can grow in a widepH rangebetween 5.0 and 8.0 .
The plant life needs systematically moist soil , so water system as require in the absence of rain , about 1 column inch per workweek , more in red-hot summer weather condition .
Temperature and Humidity
As a tropical plant life , tweedia is not frost - tolerant . It is hardy in Zones 10 and 11 where it can be overwintered outdoors and grow as a perennial . Tweedia thrives in blistering conditions and has no egress with high humidity .
Fertilizer
Like allannualsthat go through vigorous growth in their single - season lifespan , tweedia involve fertiliser . Start feed it with complete all - function fertiliser every two weeks to encourage ongoing bloom . For the amount to use , keep an eye on product recording label directions .
Pruning
To aid keep your disconsolate tweedia plant take care full and shaggy-haired , pinch the shank lead of the young plant in the spring to encourage branch .
Potting and Repotting Tweedia
Tweedia can be grown in containers . verify they have large drainage holes and fill them with well - draining potting mix . Remember thatpotted plantsneed more frequent watering and fertiliser than industrial plant in the landscape . In colder climates , potted plants can be overwintered indoors when placed in a promising and warm location .
When the ancestor of the flora fill the container , it ’s time to repot it .
Pests and Problems
Except for milkweed bugs , tweedia has no major pest or disease issues . Milkweed bugs seem towards the oddment of the summer , and they do n’t do much damage . If there is a actual infestation , you’re able to treat it withhorticultural grievous bodily harm . Do not habituate any pesticides , as these will kill the good insects that will flock to your blue silkweed .
How to Propagate Tweedia
Tweedia is best take off from cum . To get beforehand starting line on the growing season , start seed indoors six to eight weeks before the last promise Robert Lee Frost in your surface area . Place the come on the Earth’s surface ofsmall potsfilled with damp potting mix . treat the seeds with a very thin layer of grunge , only about 1/8 inch . Keep it moist and at a temperature around 70 degrees F. Germination will take 7 to 14 twenty-four hour period .
temper off the seedling before transplant them outside .
Types of Tweedia
Tweedia ‘Heavenly Blue’
Washed with a tip of peacock blue dreary and diminutive lentigo , ‘ celestial Blue ’ develops long , gracefully curving pod that hold in the cum .
Tweedia ‘Heaven Born’
Long - hold up as a cut flush , this twining subshrub commonly grows 2 - 3 foot tall and wide . leave-taking are a sericeous Gy - green with an elongated heart shape — they plough ruby in the fall .
Companion Plants
Fragrant blue flower combine with velvety - softgray foliagemake tweedia a favorite for abouquet . Plant a handful of other annuals and perennials that boast cracking flowers and foliage and you ’ll be able to make your own bouquets aright outside your door . summertime burn bloom include :
Purple Coneflower
With its flower consisting of foresightful , slender petals with a pinkish purple chromaticity , perennialpurple coneflowercombines beautifully with the blue blossom of tweedia . Zone 3 - 9
Sunflower
For cutting bloom to be used with tweedia , pick out a petitesunflowervariety that only grow 2 feet magniloquent . helianthus in all color ( orangish , red , and yellow ) can be combined in a bouquet with tweedia .
Zinnia
There are so manyzinnia varietiesthat equal tweedia , you ’ll be spoil for choice . The soft colors of this one-year flower such as dusty rise up or mauve are especially attractive in corsage .
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike othermilkweeds , the plant is not native to North America . But it is not considered invading .
Most gardeners below zona 10 grow tweedia as an yearly but you may also overwinter the pot plant indoors . get them indoors before the first fall frost and place them in a warm spot with shining light . Growth will decelerate down during the winter so reduce the watering consequently .
Updated by Nadia Hassani
Milkweed . ASPCA .
Milkweed Plant Can Cause Serious Poisoning . Poison Control .
