How to Grow Showy Milkweed

Showy milkweed provides two attractive components to your garden. First of all, it bears lovely rosy purple flowers. Secondly, it is also a great plant for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. In autumn, the flowers are succeeded by striking seed pods up to three inches long.

The pods split open at maturity to reveal the seeds within. A cotton-like fluff is attached to the seeds, allowing them to be spread by the wind. When the stem of showy milkweed is broken, a milky sap runs out of it, accounting for the common name "milkweed." The leaves are large andup to 8 inches long, oval, bluish-green, and have prominent veins.

Showy milkweed resembles common milkweed, but it can be distinguished from the latter in two ways:

• Flowers: The star-shaped flowers are larger, and there is more space between the individual flowers in the flower head (or "umbel," which measures 3 inches across), making them stand out in a showy fashion
• By the presence of tiny fibers or "hairs" on the plant

Showy milkweed is perhaps most valued as being a host plant for the larvae (caterpillars) of monarch butterflies. Learn how to give showy milkweed the optimal conditions that it needs to put on a spectacular show in your landscape.

How to Care for Showy Milkweed

Showy milkweed is easy to grow. It tolerates drought and poor soils. It may perform better in such ground than it does in soils that are wet and very fertile.

Since the plant will self-seed, some gardeners may find it a bit too easy to grow. There are better-behaved plants to grow in a mixed flower bed than showy milkweed; however, it does not spread as much as the common milkweed. To prevent the plant from spreading, simply cut off the seed pods before they open.

Once the plant becomes established, avoid trying to transplant it, since showy milkweed has a deep taproot. At planting time, select a spot for it in the landscape where you know you will want it to grow for several years.

Light

Showy milkweed blooms best if given full sun.

Soil

The main soil requirement for showy milkweed is good drainage.

Water

Do not overwater the plant once it is established. Showy milkweed prefers soil that is somewhat on the dry side.

Fertilizer

There is no need to fertilize showy milkweed. Too much fertilizer may result in underperformance.

Varieties of Milkweed, Related Plants

Asclepias is only one of many genera that belong to the Apocynaceae family. Other members of the family include:

• Dogbane (Apocynum cannabium)
• Blue star (Amsonia tabernaemontana)
• Oleander (Nerium oleander)
• Rocktrumpet (Mandevilla x amabilis)

Even within the Asclepias genus, there are many other species. They come in different heights and colors.

• Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca): 2 to 4 feet in height; pink-purple
• Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa): 1 to 2 feet in height; light orange
• Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnate): 4 to 5 feet in height; mauve, pink, or white
• Sandhill milkweed (Asclepias humistrata): 1 to 3 feet in height; pink, lavender, or white