Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnate) is a member of the milkweed family. Their flowers are beloved by bees and butterflies. All milkweed species serve as critical hosts for monarch butterflies.
Swamp milkweed grows as a herbaceous perennial, hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 6. Blooms come in shades of soft mauve to pink to reddish-violet or occasionally white. Five nectar cups form a crown on five small petals, ideal for intricate pollination. By autumn, narrow pods reveal flat brown seeds attached to the white tufts characteristic of all milkweeds.
Like most milkweed species, they are clump-forming. Sturdy, upright clumps grow on stems four to five feet tall and two to three feet wide. Leaves grow in pairs, stiff, taper-pointed, and lance-shaped. Sometimes the edges of a leaf turn inward and upward.
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a single-stemmed variety and looks a little bit different, bearing large pink clusters on especially thick stems that are four to five feet tall. Swamp milkweed is a lesser-known cousin, native to the sunny openings of swamps, marshes, bogs, fens and other moist areas of North America.
Botanical Name | Asclepias incarnata |
Common Name | Swamp milkweed, Rose milkweed, Pleurisy Root, White Indian hemp |
Plant Type | Perennial |
Mature Size | 3 to 5 ft. tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide |
Sun Exposure | Full sun |
Soil Type | Clay, loam |
Soil pH | Acid, alkaline, neutral |
Bloom Time | Mid to late summer |
Flower Color | Soft mauve to pink to reddish-violet, white |
Hardiness Zones | 3 - 6, USA |
Native Area | North America |
Toxicity | Toxic to people and animals |
Swamp Milkweed Care
The swamp milkweed is a fantastic addition to a native garden. This low maintenance perennial is ideal for sunny borders, cottage gardens, pollinator gardens, and along the edges of ponds and streams. The deep taproots should be left undisturbed once the plant is established.
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The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
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The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
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The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Light
Full sun is best, but plants will tolerate part shade.
Soil
While common milkweed is able to grow in average well-drained soil, swamp milkweed thrives in moist, medium to wet clay soil. The plant can do well in average garden soil if it does not dry out. Wet meadows or rain gardens offer ideal conditions.
Water
Keep this plant moist. If given a proper wetland environment, the swamp milkweed will likely not need watering throughout the growing season.
Varieties of Swamp Milkweed
This species has several cultivars that are grown ornamentally. "Ice Ballet" and "Cinderella" are especially popular.
Propagating Swamp Milkweed
Swamp milkweed lives a long life of slowly spreading through rhizomes. It is possible to divide established plants in late spring if desired. For natural spread, allow the wind-borne seeds to find their way.
Growing Swamp Milkweed From Seeds
To propagate this plant by seeds, collect them in the fall after the brown pods have dried and started to split. Open each pod fully and let the seeds dry for one or two weeks in paper bags, being vigilant for signs of damage by weevil larvae.
When the seeds are dry, put them in plastic bags of moist perlite or vermiculite. Store for four to 12 weeks (this process is known as stratification) in a cool place that stays about 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit.
Without stratification, seeds will likely still germinate. Soak seeds in hot water for 12 hours. Repeat twice to increase seed germination rate. Store in a cool place for up to three years. Sow four to eight weeks before the last frost in germination trays with cells, which are preferably two inches wide and four inches deep. Fill with a seedling soil mixture or a mix of sphagnum peat moss and vermiculite. Moisten the soil. Press three seeds in each cell gently. Cover with a thin layer of soil. Spray or mist until the seeds germinate.
Give seeds light and warmth between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination rates decrease significantly at higher than 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Transplant seedlings when they have one set, or more, of true leaves and the danger of frost has passed.
Common Pests/Diseases
Generally, swamp milkweed is pest free. But it does sometimes attract the orange milkweed aphid. If plants look unhealthy, spray with a soap solution or blasts of water.