Resembling Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed), Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) is a rhizomatous perennial prized for its domed clusters of rich rose-pink, starry flowers, which bloom from late spring to midsummer. Flowers are a great nectar source for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinating insects. The blooms occur in the upper leaf axils of upright stems clad with thick, oval, dark green leaves adorned with pointed tips. They give way to smooth seed pods in the fall, which look great in dried flower arrangements. When the seed pods open, they reveal seeds with long, silvery-white, silky hairs. Attractive and robust, Purple Milkweed tends to spread less aggressively than other milkweed species. A great choice for butterfly gardens, meadows, prairies, and for natural settings.
Milkweed plants belong to the Apocynaceae family, which includes other flowering plants such as oleander, hoya, plumeria, and the desert rose.
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!
| Hardiness |
3 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Apocynaceae |
| Genus | Asclepias |
| Common names | Milkweed, Purple Milkweed |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid) |
| Height | 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
| Spread | 1' - 3' (30cm - 90cm) |
| Spacing | 24" - 36" (60cm - 90cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, Midwest, Wisconsin, Michigan, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage |
| Hardiness |
3 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Apocynaceae |
| Genus | Asclepias |
| Common names | Milkweed, Purple Milkweed |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid) |
| Height | 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
| Spread | 1' - 3' (30cm - 90cm) |
| Spacing | 24" - 36" (60cm - 90cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, Midwest, Wisconsin, Michigan, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage |
How many Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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