| Common Name: |
Swamp Milkweed |
| Scientific Name: |
Asclepias incarnata |
| Other Name(s): |
Aka Rose Milkweed, Pink Milkweed, Red Milkweed, Swamp Silkweed, White Indian Hemp, Milkweed |
| Category: |
Herb/Forb |
| Habit: |
Herbaceous perennial |
| Bloom Color: |
Pink, Purple |
| Bloom Size: |
Under 1 in. |
| Bloom Shape: |
With five reflexed petals and an elevated central crown, appear in tight clusters (umbels) at the stem ends in summer; flowers are followed by attractive seed pods (to 4 in long) which split open when ripe releasing silky-haired seeds easily carried by the wind |
| Bloom Season: |
June - Oct |
| Fragrance: |
Fragrant |
| Foliage Description: |
Narrow, lance-shaped, taper-pointed leaves are 3-6in. long. Stems exude a toxic milky sap when cut |
| Height of Plant: |
4-5 ft. |
| Spread of Plant: |
2-3 ft. |
| Hardiness: |
USDA Zones 3 - 9 |
| Light Requirements: |
Full sun, part shade |
| Water Usage: |
High |
| Moisture Requirement(s): |
Moist, wet |
| Soil Type: |
Rich, wet, very muddy to average garden moisture, thrives in mucky clay soils; wet meadow, prairie, field, riparian, swamp, marsh |
| Soil pH: |
Neutral to acidic |
| Native Range: |
Northeastern and southeastern United States |
| Usage: |
Beneficial to native bees, bumble bee, honey bees |
| Propagation: |
Self fertile |
| Maintenance: |
Low |
| Other Information: |
Swamp milkweed is an important food source (albeit somewhat less important than upland species of Asclepias) for the larval stage of Monarch butterflies |
| Photographer: |
Debi Bradford |
| Location: |
Native Plant Garden |