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 nectar source 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 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!
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
2 - 9 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Apocynaceae |
| Genus | Asclepias |
| Common names | Common Milkweed, Milkweed |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Summer (Early, Mid, Late) |
| Height | 3' - 4' (90cm - 120cm) |
| Spread | 9" - 1' (23cm - 30cm) |
| Spacing | 12" (30cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, Midwest, South Dakota, Ohio, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, Kansas, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma, Rocky Mountains, Montana |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage |
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
2 - 9 |
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Apocynaceae |
| Genus | Asclepias |
| Common names | Common Milkweed, Milkweed |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest | Summer (Early, Mid, Late) |
| Height | 3' - 4' (90cm - 120cm) |
| Spread | 9" - 1' (23cm - 30cm) |
| Spacing | 12" (30cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, Midwest, South Dakota, Ohio, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, Kansas, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Southwest, Texas, Oklahoma, Rocky Mountains, Montana |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage |
How many Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Asclepias syriaca (Common 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.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
