Native Plant Database

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Class: 3-6 ft.
Leaf Shape: Lanceolate
Leaf Venation: Pinnately Veined
Leaf Margin: Entire
Leaf Apex: Acute
Leaf Base: Rounded
Breeding System: Hermaphroditic
Fruit Type: Follicle
Size Notes: Plant 3-6 in height. Follicles 7-9 cm long, 1.2 cm in diameter.
Leaf Color: Green
Sepals: 5, greenish, turned downward.
Petals: 5, pink to pinkish red, associated with a 5-parted central column.
Stamens: 5, associated with the central column.
Pistil: Ovaries 2, superior.
Fruit Length: 5 in.
Fruit Color: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , ID , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MO , MT , NE , NV , NH , NJ , NM , NY , NC , ND , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VT , VA , WV , WI , WY , DC
Canada: MB , NB , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Distribution: Manitoba, Quebec, and Nova Scotia; from New England south to Georgia; west to Louisiana, and Texas; north to North Dakota.
Native Habitat: Wet Meadow, Prairie, Field, Riparian, Swamp, Marsh
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet , Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Rich, wet, very muddy to average garden moisture. One of the few ornamentals that thrives in mucky clay soils. Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil but will tolerate heavy clay.
Conditions Comments: With its showy flower clusters that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, swamp milkweed is underutilized in gardens. In moist soils or in a pond, it will thrive. The interesting seed pods look like other milkweeds. Swamp milkweed will inevitably have aphids. The insects are not a problem unless the plant looks sick; at that point an effective treatment is to spray the plant and aphids with soapy water. Another possible treatment is to support the plant part with your hand and blast it with high-pressure water. Good for wetland gardens and habitat.
Texas comments: Swamp milkweed has showy flower clusters that attract butterflies and hummingbirds but is underutilized in gardens. In moist soils or in a pond, it will thrive. It will inevitably have aphids. The insects are not a problem unless the plant looks sick. An effective treatment is to spray the plant and aphids with soapy water or support the plant part with your hand and blast it with high-pressure water. It is good for wetland gardens and habitat.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Herbaceous perennial forming stately clump of upright stems with long narrow leaves and heads of fragrant soft mauve pink flowers, composed of many small intricate flowers.
Use Wildlife: Milkweeds are an important food source for the monarch caterpillar.
Use Food: Although milkweeds are poisonous raw, the young shoots, leaves and seed pods are all edible cooked. When placed in cold water, brought to a boil and simmered till tender, milkweeds are said to be delicately flavoured and harmless. (Poisonous Plants of N.C. State) The flower buds, nectar-sweet flowers and seeds are also edible. (Kershaw)
Warning: All parts. Toxic only in large quantities. Syptoms include, vomiting, stupor, weakness, spasms. Toxic Principle: Cardiac glycosides and resinoids.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Hummingbirds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Monarch and Queen butterflies.
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Asclepias incarnata is a larval host and/or nectar source for:

Monarch (Danaus plexippus) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA

Queen (Danaus gilippus) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Easy to start from seed. Established plants may be divided in spring.
Seed Collection: Watch plants closely and collect seed in October, November.
Seed Treatment: Heat helps germination.

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PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Asclepias incarnata (Swamp milkweed) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife)
   Lythrum virgatum (European wand loosestrife)

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: We recently were required to put in a new septic system on our vacation property in Door County, WI. This left us with a clearing on our wooded lot where the septic field is now located. The installers said it was too late to plant wildflowers on this plot(weeds as he called them) so they planted grass seed instead. My question is, are there native varieties of wildflowers (such as Queen Anne's Lace, Wild Phlox or others) that could have been planted as late as July or could still be planted this coming Fall? If so I would welcome your suggestions. I am definitely not happy with the stringy unnatural-looking lawn I see emerging in the middle of our nicely wooded lot. Thank you in advance for your reply. Charlan Hamill
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: What flowers and plants do the caterpillars in Tennessee eat? And do you know what butterflies live in Tipton Co. Tennessee?
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: Hello...what do you suggest as a companion plant for irises? I live in the Texas Hill Country. Thanks.
click here to view the full question and answer

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery - Orefield, PA
Amandas Garden - Springwater, NY
Sunshine Farm & Gardens - Renick, WV
Enchanter's Garden - Hinton, WV

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College, The - Valhalla, NY

Bibliography

100 easy-to-grow native plants for Canadian gardens (2005) Johnson, L.; A. Leyerle
Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, S.
* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Asclepias incarnata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Asclepias incarnata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Asclepias incarnata