Do you grow “hairy balls”?

I know that sounds inappropriate but it really isn’t! Gomphocarpus physocarpus is commonly known as hairy balls (see why common names are terrible?!) and is a species of milkweed.

Native to southeast Africa, this member of the Apocynaceae plant family is well adapted for use as a summer annual in the home garden.

As you can see, it is an important food source for various species of caterpillars and all parts of the plant can be consumed by insects: blooms, leaves, stems and seed pods.

During a recent while visit to Longwood Gardens the milkweed tussock moth caterpillars were feasting on the Hairy Balls. But this plant also feeds monarchs.

Not familiar with the botanical name? I learned this as Asclepias physocarpa, but a few years ago taxonomists reclassified the genus.

Even more confusing, the plant family was changed! Milkweeds previously belonged to the family Asclepiadaceae, like their genus name. Now that is considered a subfamily of the dogbanes, aka Apocynaceae.

⁉️ Can’t keep up with nomenclature changes??? ME EITHER! Just call is hairy balls and enjoy the reaction of visitors.

I haven’t grown this for a few years but it’s at the top of my “must have” list for 2021. Hope really does spring eternal in the garden.