Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias)
Perennial
- Straight native milkweed species known for attracting pollinators!
- Heat-tolerant, sun-loving pink flower clusters.
- Sole host plant to the Monarch butterfly.
- Low-maintenance addition to native plantings & meadow gardens.
- Zones 3-9, sun, 4-6' tall x 2-3' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Milkweed is a native perennial that is easy to grow, deer-resistant, and drought-tolerant, making it a great choice for any gardener. Maintenance is a breeze, and it is generally disease-free. Swamp milkweed is ideal for meadow gardens, native plantings, and wildlife sanctuaries. Plant it in a sunny spot to support your local pollinators.
Details
Common name: Swamp milkweed
Zone: 3 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: 4-6' X 2-3'
Flower color: Pink
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Native, rabbit-resistant, deer-resistant, best for beginners, low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly, heat-tolerant, cold-tolerant, rain gardens
Uses: Accent, border, cottage gardening, erosion control or embankment, ground cover, massing, naturalizing, slopes, specimen
How to Grow
Light: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Water: Average water needs, drought-tolerant once established.
Spacing: Minimum 3 ft. apart
Fertilizing: It doesn't need consistent fertilizing. You can do a very light application the first summer after planting.
Winterizing: No specific care is needed.
Maintenance & pruning: Because of a very deep taproot, moving or dividing is not recommended. No pruning is needed.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
Diseased plants infested with white spots on the front and covered in little black droppings on the back. I destroyed two of the six to stop the spread, isolated the other four, only to find those also infected two days later. Hoping this hasn't spread into my other plants. Obviously, no quality control here.
Hello! We’re sorry that you received plants that are not up to our standards. We try our best to provide excellent plants, but some factors, like shipping and handling, are outside our control. That’s why we have a 60-day guarantee on all of our orders. Please email your order number and pictures of your plants to [email protected] to start the claims process. We look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/ggp-guarantee
Doing well. Starting to bloom.
Plants arrived with dirt all out so i had to repot. I don’t think I’ll be ordering from you again.
Hello! We’re sorry that you received plants that are not up to our standards. We try our best to provide excellent plants, but some factors, like shipping and handling, are outside our control. That’s why we have a 60-day guarantee on all of our orders. Please email your order number and pictures of your plants to us to start the claims process. We look forward to helping!
It's growing. Hasn't yet bloomed but we already has a Monarch cat chewing.
They came well packed and alive. They easily transferred to my garden and look great a month later.
Arrived in good condition. I hope these grow well here
Plant was trimmed down, well packaged, and looks healthy.
Swamp Milkweed - Asclepias incarnata
My first attempt with this plant. So far it has aclimated well and is doing well. Thanks for the easy to follow care instructions.
Swamp Milkweed - Asclepias incarnata
The plants came very healthy looking and are looking good when planted.
It. I’m sure it would have been great otherwise
I was hoping this plant would grow quickly but no luck !
Our friendly customer service team is here to help! Just contact us at [email protected] with your order number and photos of the plants. After further investigation, we will be able to better assist you. All orders are covered by our 60-day guarantee. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/bb-guaranteed
Plants were very healthy.
I ordered 3 and 2 out of 3 were heavy in mealy bugs. Sprayed Neem oil on them, separated the one good plant. The 2 infested did not make it. Cut them back. Still have dead sticks in the pots. Hoping for some new growth.
Hello! We’re sorry that you received plants that are not up to our standards. We would love to replace the plants for you! That’s why we have a 60-day guarantee on all of our orders. Please email your order number and pictures of your plants to [email protected] to start the claims process. We look forward to helping! https://bit.ly/bb-guaranteed
Sadly, I planted the bushes as said, but for some reason one died and the others look like they’re about dead. We have had an odd summer in Southern California because it’s overcast with fog every day. I don’t know what to do to make them come back in the spring next year. Any suggestions
Nicely primed. Looks healthy & happy
Thank you, very satisfied. Would order again.
My 2 milkweed plants arrived in great shape. I precisely followed the directions for resting/recovering and then planting them, and I swear they have doubled in size already! I can’t wait for the butterflies to find them, I think they will make some gorgeous insects. ❤️
it dries out quickly. So try not to overwater, but give it enough is a challenge.
The swamp milkweed came with relatively good root systems, but the stems were non-existent making planting them properly very difficult. However, I marked each one so I could monitor them, but now there's nothing growing at all. Very disappointed.
Hello! We are sorry to hear that you're not satisfied with your plants. Our customer service team would love to help! Please email pictures of the plants to [email protected], making sure to put your order number and name in the subject line so that we may provide the best assistance possible. Rest assured, we have a guarantee on all our plants. Our fall guarantee covers plants received after September 1 until May 2024! If you received your plants within that time frame, we would happily apply your warranty once we receive the pictures. Happy Gardening! https://butterflybushes.com/pages/our-guarantee
The plants themselves actually arrived here in Tampa in good shape and very very well packaged. But somehow they withered and died pretty quickly despite my best efforts. I have ordered a lot of trees and plants online and been able to not only keep them alive but they are thriving so far. But to be fair I have never been able to keep the swamp milkweed alive. Other milkweed grows like - well weeds - so it is not the fault of the venrdors and highly recommend to others.
Hello! We are sorry that you're having trouble with your plants. Unfortunately, swamp milkweed is not quite as heat tolerant as some of the others. Tampa is technically zone 9b/10a, and probably a little too hot for the plant to thrive. Rest assured, we have a 60-day guarantee on all our plants. If you received your plants within that timeframe, we would be happy to apply your warranty if you're interested. Happy gardening!
Everything arrived in great shape. They are all thriving in the garden
Plants arrived in great condition and have grown tremendously just in the month since I planted. I will definitely order from here again.
The milkweed plants are thriving!! They arrived by mail in great condition.
I can’t wait for them to bloom!! 😊😊
These plants arrived in great condition. They are really growing well in the area they’ve been planted and I look forward to having monarch catnip next spring.
Very healthy plant—thriving and growing beautifully.. Glady purchase from Butterfly Bushes in the future as I couldn’t be happier with my purchase!!