- Flowers
- Inflorescence
Scientific Name:
Asclepias incarnata
Common Name:
Swamp milkweed
Scientific Name Pronounciation:
(ass-KLE-pee-us in-car-NAH-tuh)
Plant Type:
Perennial
Plant Hardiness Zones:
4-10
Plant Hardiness Zone(s):
Usual Size:
2-4 feet
Flower:
Flower consists of 4 petals hanging downward and a crown of 5 incurved horns; color is pink and flowers are borne in a cluster.
Bloom Time Notes:
Summer
Leaf:
Long and narrow and taper off to a point, 2 3/4 – 6 inches long and 1/2 – 1 inches wide, opposite arrangement. Glabrous.
Fruit:
Capsule up to 4 inches long, filled with brown seeds attached to a silk parachute.
Wildlife:
Host plant for the monarch butterfly; good nectar plant for many pollinators.
Natural Habitat:
Most often found on the margins of flooded plains, lakes, ponds, waterways, marshes, swamps, and other wet areas.
Propagation:
Seed
Bloom Time:
Sun or Shade:
Companion Plants:
Cultural Notes:
Showy flowers attract both butterflies and hummingbirds.
If aphids appear, blast off with hose or leave alone, especially if monarch caterpillars are on the plant. Aphids are not a fatal condition.