ASCLEPIAS speciosa. Showy milkweed. I have admired this western native for many years in the wild and am pleased to be able to offer it to gardeners. This is a robust perennial, with several erect stems rising as much as 4'. Paired at intervals along them are broad 3-6", usually white-woolly leaves. It flowers in late spring and summer, producing broad many-flowered clusters of rose purple to pale pink or white flowers, which are amazingly attractive to butterflies (In the case of the spectacular monarch, the leaves also provide food for the caterpillars). The seed pods are large, inflated and knobby, making an interesting display. When ripe, they release seeds with beautiful silky parachutes to the winds. Sun, moderate to occasional watering, reasonably well drained soil. Hardy, in this material, to 10oF. or less.