Alphabetical Plant Listing

Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed)

Common Milkweed, Common Silkweed, Milkweed, Silk Grass, Silky Swallow Wort, Virginian Silk


Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed) is a rhizomatous perennial prized for its domed clusters of sweetly scented, pinkish-purple, starry flowers, which bloom from early to late summer. 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, large, oval, fresh green leaves adorned with red veins. They give way to prominent 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. This is one of the easiest and fastest to establish of the milkweeds - A great choice for the flower garden 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 3-4 ft. tall (90-120 cm) and 9-12 in. wide (22-30 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, gravelly soils
  • 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.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
  • Native to North America

fortune a large amount of wealth or prosperity More (Definitions, Synonyms, Translation)

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

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Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 9
Heat Zones 2 – 9
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Asclepias
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Height 3' – 4' (90cm – 120cm)
Spread 9" – 1' (22cm – 30cm)
Spacing 12" (30cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-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, Oregon, Rocky Mountains, Montana, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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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 – 9
Heat Zones 2 – 9
Plant Type Perennials
Plant Family Asclepias
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Height 3' – 4' (90cm – 120cm)
Spread 9" – 1' (22cm – 30cm)
Spacing 12" (30cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-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, Oregon, Rocky Mountains, Montana, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Asclepias

Guides with Asclepias

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