Alphabetical Plant Listing

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)

Swamp Milkweed, Pink Milkweed


Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed) is an erect, clump-forming perennial prized for its brilliant clusters of fragrant, lilac-pink flowers, which bloom continuously for weeks from mid to late summer. Sitting atop upright branching stems, clad with stiff, lance-shaped, taper-pointed leaves, the colorful umbels give way to attractive seed pods in the fall, which persist into winter. Flowers are a great source of nectar for bees, beneficial insects, and butterflies. Milkweeds are host plants for the monarch butterfly. Milkweed plants are critical to monarch butterflies' survival, whose population in North America has plummeted by 90% in the last 20 years. By planting milkweed in your own garden, you can help reverse the fortune of these beautiful insects!

  • Grows in sturdy, upright clumps up to 4-5 ft. tall (120-150 cm) and 2-3 ft. wide (60-90 cm)
  • Thrives in full sun in medium to wet soils but is tolerant of average well-drained soils.
  • Low maintenance, this perennial plant is generally pest and disease free.
  • Perfect for sunny borders, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, wet meadows, rain gardens, bog gardens, and near ponds and streams. Excellent as cut flowers with a long vase life.
  • Plants have deep taproots and are best left undisturbed once established.
  • Stems exude a toxic milky sap when cut.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
  • Native to North America

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Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 11
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Asclepias
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid,Late)
Height 4' – 5' (120cm – 150cm)
Spread 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm)
Spacing 36" (90cm)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive, Poorly Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Deer, Wet Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage

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Peganum, Justin Meissen, Flickr

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.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 11
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Asclepias
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid,Late)
Height 4' – 5' (120cm – 150cm)
Spread 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm)
Spacing 36" (90cm)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive, Poorly Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Clay Soil, Deer, Wet Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Asclepias

Guides with Asclepias

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