HAIRY BALLS MILKWEED;Â Gomphocarpus Physocarpus (Southern Africa)
- Appearance: Reaches 4 to 6 feet tall with slender leaves, small white star-shaped flowers, and inflated green spherical seed pods covered in soft bristle-like hairs.
- Monarch Host Plant: Just like native milkweeds, it serves as a critical larval host plant where monarch butterflies lay their eggs and caterpillars feed on the foliage.
- Floral Use: The inflated green or tan pods are popular in fresh-cut or dried flower arrangements.
- Toxicity: All parts of the plant contain a milky sap with cardiac glycosides that can irritate skin and eyes, and cause mild stomach upset if ingested by pets or humans.
- Hardiness Zones: Grown as a perennial in USDA zones 8–11, and treated as a warm-season annual in cooler climates.
- Light & Soil: Prefers full sun and well-drained, average to sandy-loam soil.
- Maintenance: Drought-tolerant and resistant to deer. Pinching the main stem early on encourages a bushier plant with more blooms and pods.
Cultivation & Growing Tips
