Milkmaid Swamp Milkweed is a cultivar of Asclepias incarnata selected for its elegant summer blooms and exceptional value to pollinators. This hardy perennial reaches 36 to 48 inches tall, producing clusters of fragrant flowers in shades of coral and pink from June through August. Thriving in zones 3 to 3, it tolerates moderate moisture and full sun, making it a resilient choice for gardens where monarchs and other native pollinators need native host plants and nectar sources.
2
Full Sun
Moderate
3-3
48in H x 36in W
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Moderate
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Deer completely leave this swamp milkweed alone, a rare gift in gardens plagued by browsing pressure. Its compact spread of 24 to 36 inches and moderate water needs mean it fits into borders and rain gardens without becoming invasive or thirsty. The dense pink-coral flower clusters bloom steadily through the hottest months, creating a magnet for monarchs, swallowtails, and native bees when many other plants are flagging.
Milkmaid Swamp Milkweed is grown primarily as a pollinator plant, serving as a critical larval host for monarch butterflies and a nectar source for native bees and other beneficial insects. In native plant gardens and prairie restorations, it plays an ecological role in supporting the insects that sustain broader food webs.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Stratify seeds indoors by placing them in moist vermiculite inside a plastic bag and refrigerating for 4 to 12 weeks. After chilling, remove the pre-chilled seeds from the refrigerator and sow in pots. Cover with a humidity dome to retain moisture. Keep temperatures between 60 and 70°F. Once germination occurs, water from the bottom and allow soil to drain thoroughly. Expect seedlings to emerge 21 to 40 days after the chill period ends.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden after the last frost date when soil temperatures have warmed. Space plants 2 inches apart to accommodate their mature spread of 24 to 36 inches.
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