All parts of milkweed plants are poisonous if eaten. The caterpillar of the Monarch butterfly eats the leaves of the milkweed plant, which contain the same poisonous substance as the sap, cardiac glycosides. This technique, known as stratifying the seed, mimics the cold of winter and breaks the seed’s natural dormancy. Milkweed is one of the Monarch Butterflies’ favorite plants and will bring many winged friends to your garden or meadow. It prefers somewhat moist soil and plenty of sun, and it would look great combined with any native Switch Grass, such as Panicum ‘North Wind’. (Asclepias speciosa). A prolific and important nectar source for Monarch butterflies, bees, and other beneficial bugs. The USDA data base lists 76 different milkweed species that are native to Canada and the USA. Lifted plants may not bloom the first year, but expect plants started from seed to bloom the first year. It likes wet, clay soil, but it also prefers full sun. Big nectaring insects like bumblebeesgo nuts over these blooms. It can be a challenge to grow but once established it will thrive for years to come and spread quickly. This showy native wildflower is easy to grow, cold hardy, and does well in poor, dry soils. Some of these milkweeds prefer wet locations but others prefer dry places. In summertime many kinds of butterflies and bees swarm around the milkweed flowers to feast on the nectar and, in so doing, they transfer the pollen from plant to plant (thus perpetuating the milkweeds themselves). Needs fast-draining soil and full sun. Butterfly milkweed, a perennial wildflower also known as Asclepias, thrives in meadows and along roadsides, but they’re also terrific in flower beds too. She works as both a writer and author and enjoys writing articles on many different topics. Description: Sometimes called Orange Milkweed, this perennial has large, flat-topped clusters of yellow-orange or bright-orange flowers and blooms May to September. There are several other types of milkweeds but this is a somewhat unique milkweed and is one of the more favored host plants of the Monarch butterflies. Why Buy Seed Favors For Your Promotion Or Event: Step by step instructions on how to plant your bare root or potted perennials when they arrive. Butterfly Weed is the iconic, bright orange beauty that's a staple in every butterfly garden. Long-lasting plants produce spectacular interest at every stage of growth. At 16-24" tall, it fits nicely with Echinacea, Lavender, and Penstemon. Typical of Butterfly Weed, 'Hello Yellow' has narrow green leaves that ... 'Soulmate' Swamp Milkweed is an essential North American native that provides vital food for developing Monarch butterflies. Either one would make a wonderful planting companion for Ice Ballet. Hi Helen, tropical milkweed is a tender perennial in your region, so you might want to leaf mulch in late fall to give the roots some extra protection. Typical of Butterfly Weed, 'Hello Yellow' has narrow green leaves that serve as an important food source for Monarch caterpillars. Common Milkweed—Asclepias syriaca: Seen in meadows across the eastern part of the United States, the Common Milkweed is a robust-looking plant with white (to-pink, to-pale-lavender) bell-like flowers. Without milkweeds these beautiful butterflies will completely disappear; their population has already dropped an incredible 90% over the past decade. We love the chartreuse color! 50% Off Spring-Planted Bulbs - Pre-Order For Spring. Perennial. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Despite milkweed’s overall bold structure, their individual flowers are quite exquisite. Back to top. remove the large seedpods just before they split open and release their seeds, Free Ground Shipping Right To Your Event Or Business, Attract Pollinators & Do Good For The Environment. bear many small star-shaped flowers and produce a milky sap; they are named for this sap. © 2020 AmericanMeadows.com All rights reserved, Find the Right Perennials for Your Garden, Watch Our Spring-Planted Flower Bulb Videos, Watch Our Fall-Planted Flower Bulb Videos. Whorled milkweed is found in dry locations across the eastern half of the continent and so will do best in a dry spot in the garden. You can even have your Waystation officially registered! Perennial. Perennial. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 6, where it grows as a perennial. Re-seeds readily. This poison does not harm the caterpillar; instead it enters the caterpillar's body, making it poisonous to its predators. Milkweed perennials (Asclepias spp.) Some varieties produce clusters of drooping pinkish-purple flowers, while other varieties' flowers range in color from red and yellow-orange to orange and bicolored blooms. There are three popular varieties of Swamp milkweed for you to choose from, all growing over three feet high for a good ‘middle of the border’ placement: Ice Ballet is a recent introduction that has pure white flowers. Milkweed gets its name from the milky sap contained in its leaves and stems. Once it is established it can spread from its rhizomatous root system. For controlling perennials and fast growers like this, you can tip them back in the late spring. Step by step instructions on how to plant your spring-planted flower bulbs when they arrive. Milkweed perennials (Asclepias spp.) This reliably cold-hardy native plant is as beautiful as it is tough. This reliably cold-hardy native plant is as beautiful... 'Hello Yellow' Butterfly Weed was developed from the native Butterfly Weed and has golden clusters of flowers. If possible sow the seeds in open ground in the fall, where they will naturally be exposed the normal winter’s cold. Swamp Milkweed is an attractive, herbaceous perennial that has extensive uses. Milkweeds are classic American wildflowers that also make lovely additions to our gardens. This 2 to 3-foot-tall perennial flowers through the summer and is one of several nectar sources for the adult monarch butterflies. Your planting of milkweed will help provide a more continuous source of food along the lengthy migration path of the monarch butterfly. Swamp Milkweed Seeds This specialized garden is a plant grouping that takes the entire lifestyle of the Monarch Butterfly into consideration, offering both food and habitat for every stage of the Monarch's growth. She specializes in topics concerning health, crafts, family and lifestyles. In addition, the plants will also attract Monarch butterflies for egg-laying. and many are adapted to a wide range of climates. The plants do not require fertilization; they spread freely by underground rhizomes and can quickly take over an entire area. While the milky sap of these plants is poisonous to humans, it is beneficial to some insects. (Asclepias tuberosa), Common Milkweed is the most-well known of the milkweeds – and an important food source and host plant for Monarch butterflies. Milkweed is the poster plant for pollinator gardens. In colder climates across the continental USA and Canada, this one is normally grown as an annual where it will bloom from June to October. Learn about varieties which help to replenish nutrients to your soil. Milkweed is one of the Monarch Butterflies’ favorite plants and will bring many winged friends to your garden or meadow. Find mixtures for your region, or for special uses such as dry areas, partial shade, attracting animals, low growing, and more. About the Author: Judith Irven is an accomplished Vermont landscape designer and garden writer, and she delights in helping people everywhere create beautiful gardens. Butterfly Weed—Asclepias tuberosa: Butterfly weed is known for its cheery upright-facing orange flowers in mid-summer, and now it is joined by a new cultivar called Hello Yellow. Step by step instructions on how to plant your wildflower seeds. Now complete the picture with the linear texture of some Little Bluestem grasses! Unfortunately for the gardener, common milkweed leaves tend … milkweed species that are native to the western states. And finally, people who want to do even more to conserve Monarch butterflies are experimenting with growing their milkweeds in containers, where they can monitor the progress of the eggs, larvae and watch butterflies emerging from their chrysalides. It can be a challenge to grow but once established it will thrive for years to come and spread quickly. However some species are quite particular as to their growing requirements. And, since both these milkweed species are shorter in stature, they make perfect garden companions, where together their colorful white, orange and yellow flowers will make a lovely contrast. White Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias perennis)By Christopher David Benda. Common milkweed plants grow to about 2 to 4 feet in height, with a thin, vertical growth habit. Thrives in areas with cold freezing winters and hot summers. The places where the various species are found in the wild give us plenty of clues about how to grow them in our gardens. Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is a perennial plant that can be found in a wide range of habitats including roadsides, fields, and gardens. Tropical milkweed is also a great lure for Monarch butterflies where they will readily lay their eggs. 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