Common Name: Swamp Milkweed
Family: Apocynaceae
Native Range: Native to the Eastern United States, but naturalized all over North America.
Zone: 3 to 6
Height: 4 to 5 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: July to August
Bloom Description: Pink to Mauve flower clusters in umbels.
Sun: Full sun to partial shade.
Water: moist and tolerates wet conditions.
Maintenance: Low
Attracts: Honeybees, bumblebees, leafcutter bees, wasps, moths, and butterflies
Swamp Milkweed is very attractive to butterflies as a food source, particularly beneficial to monarch larvae. Honeybees, bumblebees, leafcutter bees, wasps, moths, and butterflies utilize the pollen and nectar from Swamp Milkweed. The wide range of species that utilize the flower make it especially beneficial in the landscape. The plant has 3-6 inch long lance shaped leaves and the stems of the plant exude a milky sap. The flowers are followed by 4 inch seed pods which release silky-haired seeds blown by wind. It is very easy to grow in medium to wet soils in full sun. It is native to swamps and wet meadows and so it will tolerate wet feet but not dry spots in the garden. It is recommended that you plant them in the fall or keep them moist and wet for one month prior to planting. Swamp milkweed is great for rain gardens and can be used as colorful borders for stream and pond banks or in butterfly gardens. Swamp Milkweed seeds require cold stratification before planting. Swamp milkweed can be purchased at Prairie Moon Nursery as seed, bare root plants, or plugs.
Horticulture Information:
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ASIN
Pollinator information from:
The Xerces Society
http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Milkweeds-of-Central-US_plus-vendors_XercesSociety.pdf
Family: Apocynaceae
Native Range: Native to the Eastern United States, but naturalized all over North America.
Zone: 3 to 6
Height: 4 to 5 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: July to August
Bloom Description: Pink to Mauve flower clusters in umbels.
Sun: Full sun to partial shade.
Water: moist and tolerates wet conditions.
Maintenance: Low
Attracts: Honeybees, bumblebees, leafcutter bees, wasps, moths, and butterflies
Swamp Milkweed is very attractive to butterflies as a food source, particularly beneficial to monarch larvae. Honeybees, bumblebees, leafcutter bees, wasps, moths, and butterflies utilize the pollen and nectar from Swamp Milkweed. The wide range of species that utilize the flower make it especially beneficial in the landscape. The plant has 3-6 inch long lance shaped leaves and the stems of the plant exude a milky sap. The flowers are followed by 4 inch seed pods which release silky-haired seeds blown by wind. It is very easy to grow in medium to wet soils in full sun. It is native to swamps and wet meadows and so it will tolerate wet feet but not dry spots in the garden. It is recommended that you plant them in the fall or keep them moist and wet for one month prior to planting. Swamp milkweed is great for rain gardens and can be used as colorful borders for stream and pond banks or in butterfly gardens. Swamp Milkweed seeds require cold stratification before planting. Swamp milkweed can be purchased at Prairie Moon Nursery as seed, bare root plants, or plugs.
Horticulture Information:
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ASIN
Pollinator information from:
The Xerces Society
http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Milkweeds-of-Central-US_plus-vendors_XercesSociety.pdf