Alphabetical Plant Listing

Milkweed: How To Grow and Care with Success

Milkweed, Common Milkweed, Butterflyweed, Swamp Milkweed, Showy Milkweed, Mexican Whorled Milkweed, Tropical Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, Asclepias tuberosa, Asclepias incarnata, Asclepias speciosa, Asclepias fascicularis, Asclepias curassavica


Milkweed is an important plant for conservation efforts, as it provides critical habitat for the monarch butterfly, which has experienced significant population declines in recent years.

What is Milkweed?

Here are some interesting facts about milkweed:

1. There are over 100 species of milkweed, with the most common species being the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), and swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).

2. Mostly native to the U.S. and Canada, Milkweeds are evergreen or deciduous perennials adorned with clusters of small, interestingly shaped flowers in shades of yellow, green, purple, pink, or orange. Attractive and easy to grow, they shine in many perennial gardens and are a key component of butterfly gardens, cottage gardens, or prairies and meadows.

3. Milkweeds can grow 2-6 feet tall (60-180 cm) and have broad, lance-shaped leaves.

4. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including native bees, honey bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies - especially monarch butterflies.

5. The leaves and stems contain a toxic sap that can be harmful to pets, livestock, and humans if ingested. However, some insects, including the monarch butterfly, have evolved to tolerate and even use this toxin to their advantage.

6. Milkweed seeds are carried by the wind and can travel long distances, allowing the plant to spread quickly.

7. Milkweed has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Native Americans used the plant to treat a variety of ailments, including respiratory problems, cuts and bruises, and joint pain.

Why are Milkweed Flowers so Important to Monarch Butterflies?

Milkweed flowers are important to monarch butterflies because milkweeds are the only plants that monarch butterflies lay their eggs on and the only plant that their larvae feed on. In addition, the plant also contains a toxin that is harmful to many predators, which helps protect the monarch butterfly from being eaten.

Milkweed flowers are also an important source of nectar for adult monarch butterflies. Monarchs require nectar from flowers to provide energy for their long migrations, which can be over 2,000 miles in some cases. They provide a rich source of nectar for monarch butterflies, which helps them complete their migration and reproduce.

Unfortunately, habitat loss and the use of pesticides have led to a decline in milkweed populations, which has had a significant impact on the monarch butterfly population. In the last 20 years, the monarch butterfly population in North America has decreased by 90%. By planting milkweed in your own garden, you can help reverse the fortune of these beautiful insects!

 

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 10
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Asclepias
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Maintenance Low
Tolerance Deer
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
Compare All Asclepias Great Plant Combination Ideas with Asclepias Guides with Asclepias

S Reed, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 10
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Asclepias
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Maintenance Low
Tolerance Deer
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
Compare All Asclepias Great Plant Combination Ideas with Asclepias Guides with Asclepias

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