These are native to our eastern US area and you can see them growing
wild in fields. They are rather late to emerge in the spring, but they
grow vigorously and flower early. They are also know as milkweeds
because of the silky fluff that the seeds are attached to. This is the
common variety known as Asclepias tuberosa and it is also called
"butterfly weed". As I say, they are very easy to grow from seed.

JD


On Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:39:20 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

They're lovely - never seen them though. Are they peculiar to your side of
the pond?

Mary