Swamp Milkweed
Swamp milkweed is a popular nectar source for monarchs. Milkweed is the only plant that a monarch butterfly will lay its eggs on, so it is very important to always have swamp milkweed in your pollinator garden. Due to construction, loss of green space and pesticide use there is much less milkweed growing wild. The monarch population has declined drastically.
The swamp milkweed plant is a perennial that is native to most of the continental U.S. and Eastern Canada. The average height of this plant is 30-40 inches and it spreads out to about 24 inches. The flowers of the swamp milkweed are a dusty rose color, and it blooms from June to October. Swamp milkweed flowers have a vanilla scent. These plants need full sun to partial shade, and they need to grow in moist soil. It is easy to start milkweed plants from seeds.
Fun Facts:
The genus or plant name was named in honor of Aesculapius, Greek god of medicine, undoubtedly because some species have long been used to treat a variety of ailments.
In the past, the roots of swamp milkweed were simmered to make a tea taken in small quantities both as a general purge and to destroy and expel parasitic worms.
Most plants live two-five years but some have been known to survive up to 20 years.
Swamp milkweed is highly toxic but will not seriously harm humans if a small quantity is consumed.
Milkweed forms pods, which contains the seeds, that are four inches long.
Swamp milkweed is a popular nectar source for monarchs. Milkweed is the only plant that a monarch butterfly will lay its eggs on, so it is very important to always have swamp milkweed in your pollinator garden. Due to construction, loss of green space and pesticide use there is much less milkweed growing wild. The monarch population has declined drastically.
The swamp milkweed plant is a perennial that is native to most of the continental U.S. and Eastern Canada. The average height of this plant is 30-40 inches and it spreads out to about 24 inches. The flowers of the swamp milkweed are a dusty rose color, and it blooms from June to October. Swamp milkweed flowers have a vanilla scent. These plants need full sun to partial shade, and they need to grow in moist soil. It is easy to start milkweed plants from seeds.
Fun Facts:
The genus or plant name was named in honor of Aesculapius, Greek god of medicine, undoubtedly because some species have long been used to treat a variety of ailments.
In the past, the roots of swamp milkweed were simmered to make a tea taken in small quantities both as a general purge and to destroy and expel parasitic worms.
Most plants live two-five years but some have been known to survive up to 20 years.
Swamp milkweed is highly toxic but will not seriously harm humans if a small quantity is consumed.
Milkweed forms pods, which contains the seeds, that are four inches long.