Alphabetical Plant Listing

Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed)

Purple Milkweed


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 source of nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial 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 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 up to 2-3 ft. tall (60-90 cm) and 1-3 ft. wide (30-90 cm). Will spread rapidly by rhizomes to form large colonies. May self-seed if seed pods are not removed prior to splitting open.
  • Thrives in full sun in dry to medium well-drained soils. Does well in poor, dry soils. Drought tolerant once established.
  • Low maintenance, this perennial plant is generally pest and disease free. Deer resistant.
  • Perfect for sunny borders, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, and prairies or naturalized areas.
  • Propagate by division or root cuttings in early spring or fall. Plants propagated from seed will take 2-3 years to produce flowers.
  • All parts are poisonous and toxic if ingested in large quantities.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
  • Native to eastern North America

Milkweed: How To Grow and Care with Success

By providing the right growing conditions, you can enjoy healthy and vibrant milkweed in your garden while supporting pollinator populations.Read More

Not sure which Asclepias to pick?
Compare All Asclepias

Buy Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed)

Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 8
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Asclepias
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)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Southeast, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Buy Plants

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Asclepias

Guides with Asclepias


By Kenneth Keifer, 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.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 8
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Asclepias
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)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Southeast, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Asclepias

Guides with Asclepias

Plant Calculator

How many Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

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.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.